A banner carrying Nazi connotations was displayed in the Barcelona soccer club's stands on Thursday’s UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Monaco soccer clubs. At the end of the match, Barcelona fans raised a sign that read "Heil Flick," in "honor" of the German coach Hansi Flick.
While the phrase might simply mean "Hail Flick" in German, it clearly alludes to infamous Nazi slogans like "Sieg Heil" (Hail Victory) or "Heil Hitler," used during Adolf Hitler's regime. Using such gestures or expressions in Germany can result in up to three years in prison. Social media accounts related to the club have been flooded with comments saying "Heil Flick," with Barcelona trying to combat the trend.
Barcelona's Vice President Elena Fort responded harshly to the incident on her X account, writing, “Despicable. Disgraceful. Disgusting and sad that someone who claims to love the Club acts like this. Everything has a limit. It can never be repeated again. Never again.”
According to reports in the Spanish outlet AS the incident marks the second of its kind this year. Earlier in 2024, two fans were arrested by French police in Paris for using a Nazi salute during an away match against Paris Saint-Germain. The fans were later banned by Barcelona.
The club’s extremist fan group Boixos Nois, known for its far-right connections and use of Nazi paraphernalia, was expelled from the stadium by Barcelona years ago. It seems, however, that remnants of that group still exist among the club's supporters.