As is well known, in recent months FK Csíkszereda has been fined on several occasions by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) because Szekler and Hungarian flags were displayed in the stadium. Particular attention should be drawn to the most recent fine of 37,968.75 lei, which is the largest sanction of this kind in the club’s history and raises serious concerns within our community regarding legality and proportionality.
It is important to stress that there is currently no legal prohibition on the peaceful use of identity-expressing symbols, provided they do not convey violent, racist, or fascist content. In this sense, the Szekler and Hungarian flags are not banned symbols, therefore the legal basis of the fine is questionable.
We also note that a fine of this magnitude is without precedent in the history of Romanian football. No club has ever been subjected to a sanction of this scale. Meanwhile, supporters of numerous Romanian clubs regularly commit violations, openly incite against the Hungarian community, chant xenophobic and anti-Hungarian slogans, and engage in conduct that breaches basic standards of sportsmanship and public order-yet similarly strict, deterrent financial penalties are not applied to them.
In light of the above, our Service has contacted the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) seeking an explanation, requesting that it immediately and in detail justify the legal grounds for imposing the 37,968.75 lei fine, present the criteria it applies when sanctioning the use of peaceful symbols, and clarify why the club and those concerned did not receive the detailed reasoning behind the decision.
According to Erika Benkő, Director of the Mikó Imre Legal Protection Service, “the peaceful use of national and regional symbols cannot constitute a disciplinary offence; therefore we are particularly interested in what the Football Federation based the fine on. I also find it strange that this was done without a detailed justification. Thus, we are awaiting their detailed response.”