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BUDAPEST: For Hungarian club enthusiasts Ferencvaros (FTC), their recent good fortune has been a long-awaited satisfaction in the picture and a possibility to the truth of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic problems.
For the first time in 16 years for a Hungarian team, the club reached the level of organization of the Champions League, beating Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb in direction and touchdown in an organization of giants such as Barcelona and Juventus.
Seeing two of the game’s greats, Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus and Lionel Messi of Barcelona, betting in Budapest is more than satisfying for enthusiasts who have long been at a disadvantage from unusual successes in Hungary until the 1980s.
“This year has been a disaster and the FTC in the Champions League is positive for us right now,” Szebasztian Huber, editor-in-chief of the club’s biggest fan page, ulloi129. hu.
Recent rates of coronavirus infection and the death toll in Hungary have reached record levels, as Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pledged to keep the country open for as long as possible.
It also means that enthusiasts can attend unrestricted football games (the regulations on protective mask and sanitation are in force), which makes the FTC, so far the most popular club in the country, a case of verification.
The club has the most crowds, adding 17,000 enthusiasts filling its stadium until almost completing its capacity in a recent national match. The Champions League match opposed to Dinamo Kiev also attracted thousands of enthusiasts, despite UEFA’s participation restrictions.
Wednesday’s attack on Juventus will take place at the 67,000-seat Puskas Arena, where UEFA regulations still allow 22,000 on-site enthusiasts, the big match of the moment in the arena after a successful check in September.
“WHERE WE BELONG”
Enjoying the occasion, enthusiasts decide to forget about the pandemic and old glories, such as when the FTC beat Juventus in the top competition of the 1965 Intercity Fairs, the predecessor of the modern Europa League.
“A lot of people see this as a return to our position in the 1960s and 1970s,” said Huber, who has attended all recent games, including those closed to the public.
He said the crowd is more youthful because enthusiasts over the age of 50 tend to stay home. People stay with teams of close friends and combine much less than usual, for more empty seats.
“But once the game starts, you drop everything,” Huber said. “When you have so little explanation of why you feel good, you make the most of every minute you have. “
There are still strict regulations, with the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) even threatening clubs with sanctions, but while adjusting security tests and protocols, MLSZ also stated that clubs could cancel games.
Ferencvaros said they will redouble their efforts to enforce regulations after enthusiasts got rid of their mask in a championship game.
“We have already made a great effort in this match,” the club said in an email response to Reuters’ questions. “However, we have learned our classes and will do an even greater job, by applying intelligent use of masks, for example. “