The final of the Swiss women’s football championship ended in a conflict between supporters and stadium security. She forbade them to be shirtless.
“It’s a scandal! My nipples have nothing to do with sex,” defended a Zurich supporter in the Swiss media Blick. This last came to support her favorite team was retorted after appearing topless during the final of theAXA Women’s Super League in Lausanne. Switzerland hosted a women’s football championship, the final of which took place on Monday June 6 at the Tullière stadium.
While Servette FCCF faced FC Zürich Frauen, some Zurich supporters undressed to appear shirtless in the stands. Except that their behavior was not to the taste of stadium security. Officers demanded that they get dressed. Security explained that this behavior was not tolerated within the stadium, neither among women nor among men and that this decision did not specifically target female supporters.
Supporters denounce unequal treatment between men and women
“Security asked the supporters, both on the Geneva side and on the Zurich side, men and women alike, to get dressed to respect decorum”, explained Benoît Jeanmonod, co-organizer of the championship final to the Swiss media Blick.
However, this version of the organizers is not suitable for supporters who feel they have been targeted. Which is never the case when men appear without their jerseys in the stands. This was also the case during the final, other male supporters were displayed shirtless.
The same Swiss media was able to interview two of the reprimanded supporters. “It’s completely false (…) The agents targeted us. The other supporters also put their jerseys back on in solidarity.” The supporters were shocked to have been sexualized in this way and not to have their bodies as they see fit.
Legally, the supporters have not broken any law, but in a private space, it is the managers who can issue a reservation. The event comes three weeks after protesters who were barred from walking topless in 2021 won their court case. Swiss justice recognized that their approach was not contrary to morality. Appearing topless is therefore allowed.