Romania – street dogs instead of enema children – sport

The slogan was aimed right at the heart, the stage was huge: “Fill the void in your life”, read the banner with which the footballers from Dinamo Bucharest carried eleven dogs into the full stadium during the city derby. It was an appeal for adoption in front of 36,000 spectators at the explosive city derby against FCSB Bucharest last weekend. Sad dog eyes at prime time, a resourceful idea from the Romanian Football Association and the serial champions from the old days, who have long been chasing after the glory of their past.

Street dogs are a political issue in Romania: in 2013 there were around 50,000 in the capital alone, serious figures have not been published since a four-year-old was bitten to death by stray dogs. Parliament released the animals for killing if no owner could be found within two weeks. Animal rights activists stormed the shelters while an angry crowd demonstrated against the dogs in the street; the animals divide the city. But now the opponent, who previously traded as Steaua Bucharest, was unimpressed by the action. Club owner George Becali, one of the richest men in Romania, probably prefers to circle around himself: he had himself painted as Jesus at the Last Supper, surrounded by his players as his disciples. They showed no mercy, they won 6-0 against “The Dogs”, as Dinamo is called.