Dinamo executive blames pre-match anthem for fan chants after mayor files UEFA complaint

Sfântu Gheorghe mayor Antal Arpad filed official complaints with the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) and UEFA following incidents at the match between Sepsi OSK and Dinamo București. The mayor alleged that Dinamo fans engaged in xenophobic and anti-Hungarian chants for tens of minutes during the game on October 9. He requested that the FRF urgently analyze audio-video evidence and impose exemplary disciplinary sanctions against those responsible.

Andrei Nicolescu, the 50-year-old executive president of Dinamo, issued a response to the allegations. He condemned xenophobic chants but stated that pre-match protocols at Sfântu Gheorghe, including the singing of the Szeklerland anthem, provoke fan reactions. Nicolescu described the singing of this anthem before matches as a provocation that should be regulated.

Nicolescu claimed that the chants from Dinamo supporters were a reaction to provocations by residents of Covasna. He acknowledged that it is very difficult for fans to refrain from reacting when they feel provoked. While he admitted that Dinamo supporters sometimes cross the line, he argued that stopping the initial provocations is the primary necessary regulation.

The match in question took place on Friday, October 9, 2026, in Sfântu Gheorghe. Dinamo defeated Sepsi with a score of 2-0. During the game, referee Viorel Flueran interrupted play for approximately two minutes due to the xenophobic chants from the Dinamo fans. The referee also asked Dinamo captain Cătălin Cîrjan to speak with the supporters to stop the chanting.

Antal Arpad claimed that the referees did not fully apply the three-step anti-discrimination protocol, such as sending teams to the locker rooms or stopping the game entirely. He asked UEFA to monitor the disciplinary procedures and ensure that Romanian officials apply the three-step protocol without hesitation when minorities are attacked. The Romanian Federation has implemented this three-step protocol for cases of xenophobic chanting.

Following the victory over Sepsi, Dinamo reached 26 points in the standings. The club holds first place with a two-point advantage over rival Rapid. Nicolescu suggested that potential sanctions for Dinamo could include fines, depending on how the regulations are applied by the authorities.

This is not the first time Dinamo has faced disciplinary action for similar issues. The FRF Disciplinary Commission previously fined the club 7,500 lei for xenophobic incidents during a match against Csikszereda.