Luis Bobga, co-chair of the youth wing of Germany’s green party has sparked widespread criticism after linking the world cup exit to a rise of domestic, ranking players according to their skin colour and calling to get rid of German flags from the public view.
In posts on Threads and Instagram, Bobga wrote that domestic violence cases rise during football tournaments, “as has been documented for years.”
He argued that the defeat, society should address violence and misogyny.
He asked: “You say a penalty means thrill, but what does that mean for your neighbour if a missed kick means her husband beats her afterwards?”
He added: “How many men, drunk at half past two in the morning, will have taken out their anger at Paraguay on their wives?”
Bobga concluded: “So now hang your shit Germany flags back up.”
He also said he was glad Havertz and Woltemade missed their penalties rather than Deniz Undav and Leroy Sané, noting that “you are not ready for that discussion.”
He further stated that men should demand legal protection from sexualised violence, more funding for women’s shelters, and public shaming of perpetrators in their circles with the same vigour shown in calls for national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation.
Bobga has previously expressed discomfort with German flags.
In earlier comments, he said waving black-red-gold flags “does not evoke nice feelings” in him, though he acknowledged it was “complete nonsense” to claim that everyone displaying them stands on the far right.
He noted that some people associate groups of drunk men with German flags with risks of racist abuse or sexual harassment, drawing from personal experience.
Public reactions in comment sections have been strongly negative, with many accusing Bobga of disrespecting national symbols and generalising about men and football fans.
The episode echoes past controversies. During the 2016 European Championship, some Grüne Jugend branches urged fans not to display German flags, equating such displays with nationalism.
The comments revived debates about patriotism in Germany, where national symbols carry historical sensitivity but have become common during major tournaments since 2006 as expressions of inclusive support.
Bobga, who has a background in migrant communities (his father was born in Cameroon), has positioned himself as a vocal advocate for anti-racism, feminism, and progressive causes within the Greens’ youth wing.
His previous high-profile interventions, including a 2026 apology after using strong language about CSU leader Markus Söder in a social media video, have also generated controversy.
Europe has long misunderstood nationalism. A strong national culture underpins a liberal society, and protecting it is a government’s core duty.
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