Protesters at Friday night's Luxembourg-Slovenia friendly used symbolic red cards and banners to condemn the national team's selection of Gerson Rodrigues, a player previously convicted of domestic violence.
During Friday night's friendly match between Luxembourg and Slovenia, several protesters held up banners at the Stade de Luxembourg to voice their opposition to the selection of Gerson Rodrigues for the national team. The protest was organised by the advocacy group CID Fraen an Gender.
Rodrigues, who has previously been convicted of domestic violence, was recently recalled to the national squad by the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF), a decision that has sparked widespread criticism.
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CID Fraen an Gender spokesperson Cléo Thoma told RTL the group was outraged that Rodrigues had been selected for a friendly with "nothing on the line", adding that even if it were the Champions League or World Cup final, it still would not be acceptable.
For Thoma, selecting a player with a history of domestic violence sends the wrong message given that top athletes are role models and should behave accordingly.
Protesters held up red A4 papers as a symbolic 'red cards' and banners with slogans such as "You protect perpetrators, we protect ourselves", "FLF: Complicity instead of consequences", and "Shame on you FLF".
The demonstration was short-lived, as officials quickly moved through the stands to remove the banners.
