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Austria Now News – Lower Austria
The football club ASK Wilhelmsburg in Lower Austria has banned St. Pölten’s city councillor for social affairs, Christian Brenner of the Freedom Party FPÖ, from its sports facilities after three of its players accused him of insulting them with racist remarks. Brenner apologised for his behaviour but called for a full account of what happened.
What happened?
According to a report by oe24, three of the club’s players went to a nearby restaurant to spend the evening after their team’s match against Neulengbach on 24 October. The players say Brenner repeatedly insulted them with racist remarks and because of their presumed religious affiliation after they asked the waiter to play a Serbian song. The source did not state the players’ nationalities.
The club’s position
In a statement on its official website, the club said the waiter had confirmed the players’ account and that discrimination has no place, especially where children and young people come together to play sport. The club said it stands united behind its players and does not accept the insults described, and had therefore decided to ban Brenner from its ground.
Brenner’s response
In a statement sent to the Austria Press Agency APA, Brenner, who is also an FPÖ member of the state parliament, said he valued the club’s work and did not want a matter that took place under the influence of alcohol, and in which he was not the only party involved, to be borne by the club, and therefore apologised for his behaviour. However, he called on the club and the players to tell the story honestly, noting that several people were removed from the restaurant that night because of their behaviour and that he was not one of them. He added that he is in contact with the club’s management and has offered a personal meeting with the players concerned.
According to the source, Brenner had recently publicly criticised a local SPÖ politician for what he described as degrading behaviour.
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Sources
- oe24 – Rassismus-Eklat: Platzverbot für FPÖ-Stadtrat – 02.11.2026 – https://www.oe24.at/a/rassismus-eklat-platzverbot-fuer-fpoe-stadtrat-900129492
