Hungarian-Slovak relations through the eyes of football stadiums

Abstract

Slovak-Hungarian relations have long been burdened by a different view of the common past. While Hungary and Slovakia cooperate as good and reliable partners in international relations and despite friendly relations between their governments, deep-seated tensions between the two nations is regularly displayed when it comes to football matches. The goal of the article is to map the political expressions of relevant actors at mutual football matches. It analyzes in more detail the behavior and political or ideological expressions of national football associations, clubs, players or fans during two international matches between Slovan Bratislava and Ferencvárosi TC (Budapest) in 2022. The conclusions show that the matches were seen by some spectators as an expression of rivalry between Hungarians and Slovaks. Despite the efforts of UEFA, national football federations or the clubs themselves, the spectators presented political attitudes that bore the signs of aggressive nationalism or chauvinism.