DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — German police said Sunday they believe a man who scaled the roof of the stadium as Germany played Denmark at Euro 2024 was a would-be photographer and they have no evidence he intended to hurt anyone.
Video shown by public broadcaster WDR appeared to show the man being detained among the catwalks and beams on the underside of the Westfalenstadion roof following the last-16 game, which Germany won 2-0.
It was the latest security breach inside a stadium at a tournament where European soccer body UEFA has not addressed issues about the tournament at any public forum this month.
Dortmund police said the man was identified as a 21-year-old from the nearby city of Osnabrueck and that he is currently under investigation for alleged trespassing. Police added that they “are currently ruling out a political motivation.”
The man was carrying camera equipment in a rucksack and no dangerous objects, police said, adding he allegedly said in questioning that he wanted to take “good photos.”
“There is currently no evidence that the man intended to endanger visitors to the stadium with his behavior,” police said in an earlier statement overnight.
Police said the man had first been spotted around half time in the game, which was delayed by a thunderstorm.
Around that time, referee Michael Oliver summoned both team captains and appeared to gesture up toward the roof. The presence of the climber was not obvious to many fans at the time. No announcement was made to the crowd.
It wasn't immediately clear how the man was able to enter the stadium. Fans are generally not allowed to bring large rucksacks.
In previous security lapses at Euro 2024, multiple fans were able to approach Portugal's star player Cristiano Ronaldo on the field seeking selfies. At Portugal's next game, after UEFA pledged to tighten security, a person jumped from the crowd and nearly collided with Ronaldo.
At the opening ceremony on June 14 a German YouTuber filmed and later published a video showing how he entered the Munich stadium with fake credentials and made it onto the field while disguised in a mascot costume he bought online.
On Sunday, UEFA praised the “very professional action by police and special forces, and the excellent cooperation” with tournament officials to resolve the latest incident safely.
UEFA promised another review of security in the 10 cities hosting games though without specifying details.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Denmark's Thomas Delaney, left, and Denmark's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, center, look up to the stadium roof during a round of sixteen match between Germany and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Denmark's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, left, looks up to the stadium roof during a round of sixteen match between Germany and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at the European Championship.
The France captain is struggling with his peripheral vision in the masks that were fitted to protect his broken nose from their opening game at Euro 2024.
He wore a third different mask on Monday in the 1-0 win against Belgium in the round of 16. The striker failed to hit the target in five attempts on goal against Belgium.
He has only one goal in the tournament.
“You’ve got the sweat aspect and we know sweat can get in his eyes. He’s getting used to it, but it can affect his vision," coach Didier Deschamps said. “Everything in front of him is fine, but there’s a delay with his peripheral vision.”
Mbappé broke his nose in an aerial collision with Austria's Kevin Danso, and has described the mask-wearing experience as “an absolute horror.”
His only score so far was a penalty against Poland. “I saw people but I had the feeling it was not me that was playing,” he said after that game.
Mbappé was initially fitted with a custom-made mask that was designed in the colors of the French flag. But UEFA rules state protective equipment has to be a single color, and he switched to an all black version against Poland.
He changed it again for the knockout game against Belgium with a version that appeared to be more custom-cut to the contours of his face. It also had more ventilation than his previous masks and was held on with one strap, rather than two.
But it didn't seem to make a lot of difference, with Mbappé's shooting often wide of the mark.
It could be a problem for Real Madrid if Mbappé still requires a mask at the start of next season after he completed a move to the Spanish giant last month.
Before that, Mbappé and France have a quarterfinal against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on Friday.
It is the first time World Cup winner Mbappé has gone this far at a Euros after France lost in the last 16 in 2021 to Switzerland after a penalty shootout.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
FILE - Kylian Mbappe of France receives a treatment after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, on June 17, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
FILE - Kylian Mbappe of France holds his nose after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, on June 17, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
FILE - Kylian Mbappe of France adjusts his mask after scoring a penalty kick during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, on June 25, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
FILE - France's Kylian Mbappe gestures as he adjusts his face mask during a training session in Paderborn, Germany, on June 27, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
FILE - France's Kylian Mbappe adjusts his face mask during a training session in Leipzig, Germany, on June 20, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
FILE - Kylian Mbappe of France adjusts his face mask as the team warms-up before the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, on June 21, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship.(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
FILE - Kylian Mbappe of France wears a face mask during a round of sixteen match between France and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, on July 1, 2024. Kylian Mbappé has had more masks than goals at Euro 2024. Widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest icon, the France striker is struggling with his peripheral vision due to the protective face covering he has been fitted with since breaking his nose at the start of the European Championship.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
