FK Csíkszereda does not wish to assist in the banning of Székely and Hungarian national symbols in Romania, stated the club and Székelyföld Football Academy president, Zoltán Szondy, at Monday’s press conference.

FK Csíkszereda does not wish to assist in the banning of Székely and Hungarian national symbols in Romania, stated the club and Székelyföld Football Academy president, Zoltán Szondy, at Monday’s press conference.

Following the Superliga match between FK Csíkszereda and Universitatea Cluj on October 4, representatives of the King Ferdinand Mobile Gendarmerie Unit of Târgu Mureș issued a fine to the organizers, claiming—according to the official report—that they “allowed the introduction into the sports arena of the blue and gold symbol representing the so-called Székely Land, as well as a symbol containing the representative colors of the Hungarian State (‘red-white-green’), on which the word ‘CSIKSZEREDA’ was inscribed in Hungarian, representing the name of the locality Miercurea Ciuc. Under these circumstances, given that these symbols were visibly displayed in the stands designated for the home supporters (sectors B and C), these symbols are liable to incite xenophobia, interethnic conflicts, and national denigration, thereby violating the legal provisions in force.”

The gendarmerie report, dated October 6, and the 30,000 lei fine mentioned therein are considered unlawful by the club, which has initiated legal proceedings against them.

During Monday’s press conference, Szondy Zoltán, president of FK Csíkszereda and the Székelyföld Football Academy, explained that after the fine was issued, he contacted the executive leadership of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), from whom a prompt clarification was received regarding the legal status of such cases in present-day Romania. It clearly shows that the Székely flag is not banned, nor does it appear on the football federation’s list of prohibited symbols. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the Romanian Professional Football League (LPF) from previously sanctioning the club for displaying the same Székely symbols, invoking “the sensitivity of the majority supporters.”

As for the Hungarian “state” colors, Szondy believes that the gendarmerie has no authority to ban the flag of another European Union member state.

“I believe that from now on, this is no longer FK Csíkszereda’s fight. I send this message to Mr. Hunor Kelemen, Mr. Barna Tánczos, and the other leaders of our political representation. With all due respect, I ask them: are these flags banned here? We are not involved in football in Miercurea Ciuc to promote our national symbols, but neither can we stand by and assist in their prohibition. I call on our political representatives to take action,” emphasized the president.

Szondy also pointed out that this case could set a precedent: if an unfavorable ruling is handed down, the symbols expressing the identity of the Hungarian community in Transylvania could no longer be legally displayed at sports events or any other public gatherings.

By Attila Rédai
Photo: Zoltán Pál