Greenpeace parachutist smashes into spidercam wires above France Germany stadium at Euro 2020 game
Two spectators are hospitalised with head injuries in botched stunt horror at France-Germany game as Greenpeace paraglider hits Spidercam wires and hurtles into stands
- Greenpeace protester lost control during a paragliding stunt at last night’s Germany-France game in Munich
- He clipped wires for the aerial ‘spidercam’ TV camera attached to the stadium roof and veered towards fans
- Two people were injured as he whizzed inches over the heads of people preparing for the match to begin
- The Greenpeace activist, a 38-year-old German, was protesting against Euro 2020 sponsor Volkswagen
- He was arrested after crashing on the pitch, and those injured were taken to hospital. Greenpeace apologised
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here.
At least two people were taken to hospital with head injuries last night when a botched Greenpeace stunt before the Germany v France Euro 2020 match saw a paragliding activist hurtle into the stands.
An activist who was supposed to drop a slogan-covered ball onto the pitch to protest against a tournament sponsor instead clipped ‘spidercam’ TV cables attached to the stadium roof and lost control.
Large pieces of plastic and metal sheared off his damaged craft – a seated microlight with a rear fan that propelled him under a yellow parachute – as he went into a spin that sent him shooting just inches over dozens of people’s heads in the stands.
France manager Didier Deschamps and members of the squad and backroom staff were among those forced to take evasive action to avoid being injured by the activist and his disintegrating machine.
At least two people were hit, with one of them suffering facial fractures, German newspaper Bild reported.
Spectators, officials and journalists take evasive action as the paraglider skims inches over their heads during his botched stunt at the Germany-France game in Munich last night
The activist skimmed over the heads of many in the crowd during his botched stunt. Part of his equipment was damaged on the approach and two people suffered head injuries
The paraglider is seen top left as people including members of the French squad cower as he whizzes over their heads
He nearly crashed into players lining up before kickoff and appeared to injure a photographer in the botched protest
France manager Didier Deschamps ran for cover in the dugout as a piece of debris fell just in front of him
The international coach ducked under the dugout during the botched protest moments ahead of kickoff
After nearly flying into the stands, putting fans at danger, he managed to divert his parachute and land on the pitch
He headed towards the pitch, causing the players to run to safety, as he landed heavily near the German stars
UEFA medics tend to a cameraman who was apparently injured by the Greenpeace paraglider in Munich last night
The paraglider, who was reported to be a 38-year-old German, veered back over the pitch before suffering a heavy landing on the grass. He narrowly missed German players, TV reporters and match officials who were preparing for the game at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
German stars Antonio Rudiger and Robin Gosens were the first to approach him.
The activist avoided serious injury himself and was hauled away by stadium stewards. After receiving a medical check-up at the side of the pitch he was arrested and taken to the stadium’s detention centre.
A police spokesman couldn’t confirm the extent of the injuries to the spectators, though neither are believed to have needed surgery.
‘We are considering various criminal charges,’ the spokesman said. ‘Munich police zero tolerance for political actions that put lives at risk.’
The stunt was a protest against German car manufacturer Volkswagen, one of the sponsors of the European Championships, Greenpeace explained in a Twitter post.
The campaign group said they regretted any harm caused.
‘This protest was never intended to disrupt the game or hurt people,’ read a Twitter post on Greenpeace’s official German account.
‘We hope that everyone is OK and that no one was seriously injured.
‘Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan.’
The organisation claimed the paraglider was not meant to enter the stadium at all, instead just to drop a yellow ball with ‘Kick out oil’ written on it onto the pitch. He did drop the ball, but at that point was seemingly too low to avoid entering the giant bowl-shaped arena, which has a capacity of 75,000 and is where Bayern Munich play their home games.
Greenpeace Germany later wrote on Twitter: ‘Hey @Volkswagen, time to kick out oil!
‘#Greenpeace activists protest against the games’ sponsor at the #FRAGER-match and demand: stop selling climate-damaging diesel and petrol cars! #EURO2020.’
The car firm said: ‘Greenpeace put the life and limb of bystanders and fans of a football game at risk. That is not acceptable.’
The activist, who had ‘Kick Out Oil’ emblazoned on his yellow parachute, glided into the stadium before losing control. He was hauled away by stewards after the stunt and later arrested
He was then led away by security stewards and given medical attention on the side of the field
Tournament organisers UEFA also slammed the botched stunt, calling it a ‘reckless and dangerous’ act and said ‘law authorities will take the necessary action’.
‘This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital,’ they added.
‘The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.’
They added: ‘UEFA and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions.’
The parachutist attempted the daring stunt at the start of arguably the tournament’s most anticipated game so far
The parachutist came in at a steep angle and appeared to clip a cable when entering the stadium
The Greenpeace paraglider dropped a ball with a ‘kick out oil’ slogan on it onto the pitch before hitting the spidercam wires
Local Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann, who witnessed the incident, called the Greenpeace man ‘an irresponsible adventurer who grossly overestimated his flying skills’.
And the German FA’s Jens Grittner said after the match: ‘We condemn the action. The person has not only endangered and injured himself, but also others. From our point of view, this is unacceptable. It could have turned out much worse. ‘
France went on to win the highly anticipated clash 1-0 thanks to an own-goal by German defender Mats Hummels.
Greenpeace Germany later claimed credit for the stunt and said it was aimed at Volkswagen, a tournament sponsor
Spidercam is an aerial TV camera that is attached to the top of the stands by four wires, allowing it to travel to any area above the pitch. The technology is seen here at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium in Feburary
