One injured in clashes between social activists, football federation employees

Social activist Giorgi Kupatadze was injured in clashes between Georgian Football Federation employees and demonstrators earlier today.

After yesterday’s 0-1 defeat against North Macedonia, Georgian football fans and social activists held a rally in front of the office of the football federation demanding the resignation of the federation leadership.

• Euro 2020 playoff between Georgia and North Macedonia to be played in empty stadium
• Head coach Vladimir Weiss to leave Georgian national football team

Demonstrators stated that there is a selective law in Georgia that allowed high-ranking officials, including Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and ruling Georgian Dream party Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze, to watch the football match from the VIP tribune, while fans outside the stadium were fined 2,000 GEL for violating pandemic-related restrictions on public gatherings.

Rally members wanted to symbolically gift the book Animal Farm by George Orwell and a red card to the employees of the federation, which was the reason for the clashes between the social activists and the representatives from the federation.

Shortly after the rally  Kaladze apologised to the public  for his ‘unintentional mistake’. 

In his Facebook post Kaladze explained that he was invited by the UEFA delegation and the football federation along with other veteran football players.

The invitation allowed me to be accompanied three other individuals. It would be strange for me not to stand by veteran players in these crucial moments”, Kaladze said.

Kaladze also mentioned that football fans and Georgia’s national team deserve appreciation and an individual should not be fined during such an important moment.

The fine should not be a burden for that man’s family… I promise he will not have a problem and his case will be solved in full compliance with the requirements of law”, writes Kaladze in his post.

After the match with North Macedonia, Georgia lost its chance to play in the European Championship in June 2021.