During the UEFA Euro 2024 Group E soccer match between Ukraine and Belgium at the Stuttgart Arena, Belgian coach Domenico Tedesco was seen gesturing on the touchline. However, after the game, Tedesco complained about the difficult circumstances surrounding their late arrival at the match.
Despite warnings from the police, the Belgian football association had rejected their advice and planned for a travel time of 40 minutes instead of the recommended 60 minutes. According to Frank Belz, spokesman for the Stuttgart police, it was actually the Belgian team that was responsible for their tardiness. The bus transporting the Belgians left three minutes late during their escort, and had to slow down to maintain a safe distance between both teams.
Tedesco expressed frustration over the slow journey, which gave him only two minutes to prepare for a talk with his players before kickoff. Belz defended the police’s actions, stating that nothing unusual occurred during the escort of the Belgian bus. Despite these challenges, Belgium managed to secure a spot in the last 16 of the tournament.
