News Statement of World Cup Fans After Hospitalization Due to Rainbow Flag

The 2026 World Cup supporter has spoken out for the first time since being hospitalized for waving a rainbow flag in Canada, during a visit to Germany vs Ivory Coast.

33-year-old Alex Alber traveled to Toronto from Berlin to watch his country in their second group game of the tournament, as Julian Nagelsmann’s side defeated the Ivory Coast thanks to the late Deniz Undav.

Alex took to the streets of Toronto with two of his friends to celebrate Germany’s second win of the tournament. It was at that time that he was allegedly attacked and injured by a group of people believed to be motivated by hatred of gays in a nightclub.

The 33-year-old suspect has now released a statement about the incident and shared photos of the alleged injuries he sustained in the incident.

A World Cup fan released a statement after the alleged attack

Alex revealed that his injuries were so bad that he had to go to the hospital.

Sharing details of the alleged attack, the German fan said: “We were out at Club Paris Texas in Toronto. A friend brought a rainbow fan. That’s enough. It started with insults from a group of boys, early twenties. It ended up being attacked. This photo is the result.

“I’m fine now. The sweater is gone. The $5,000 doctor’s bill is gone. But that’s not what keeps me down.

“What’s happening: people in their early twenties, the generation we always call more open than the last, still harbor this kind of hate. I’m not gay. But I know the LGBTQ+ community lives with this every day, and that’s why I won’t be silent.

“To us, that fan means one thing. Everyone becomes who they are. Freedom. Diversity. People living like themselves. To experience this as a guest in someone else’s country breaks my heart.

“And the club was just a topic. My friend was abused all day, on the pitch, by other fans, German fans too. This is not about one nation. It’s everywhere, and that’s the point.”

Alex also urged others to “stand up” to homophobia after sharing that the police had been notified: “We have spoken to the police. We have pictures and videos of people who have done this. We decide our next steps.

“This World Cup has written good stories. This is one of its worst, and pretending that it doesn’t exist doesn’t help anyone. So we share it.

“To raise our voice and say it clearly: we will never tolerate this, and we will always stand against it. And to you: if you happen to see something like this, come in. Don’t look away. Everyone deserves to be exactly who they are. That’s what we shine.”

He revealed the extent of his injuries on social media.

Germany have already secured their place at the top of Group E and are likely to face Panama in the Round of 32, as Nagelsmann’s men look to kick on after a good start.

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