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Copenhagen cancel Champions League tickets of fans with ‘non-Danish’ sounding names

Dirty Tackle

Danish Superliga winners FC Copenhagen have canceled the Champions League ticket orders of fans with "non-Danish" sounding names. The bizarre move was intended to keep fans of the visiting glamor clubs from sitting amongst the home supporters and thus raising security concerns, but instead it's just angering Copenhagen fans who don't happen to have traditional Danish names.

From Reuters:

Joy turned to anger for fans who purchased three-match packages - for the Group B home ties against Real Madrid, Juventus and Galatasary - but then received emails stating their tickets had been cancelled "for security reasons." [...]

The Danish champions have encouraged fans whose ticket purchases were cancelled to contact them directly.

"Safety is always our main concern when it comes to events at Parken (stadium). Therefore we make every effort to ensure that fans of our guests only have access to the away section," FC Copenhagen club secretary Daniel Rommedahl said.

"If a dialogue with the customer shows otherwise, the purchase will be approved.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused but it's a necessary action in relation to the matches and UEFA's rules and Parken's security procedures."

So, fans will have to prove their allegiances to the club before their purchases can be approved. It's unclear exactly what that dialogue will consist of — maybe a series of club trivia question, maybe riddles designed to expose witches. Whatever it is, it just might turn some Copenhagen supporters into Real Madrid or Juventus or Galatasaray fans come the start of the group stage.