December 02, (THEWILL) – The 2023 Euro 2024 tournament draw held in Hamburg, Germany was disrupted by unexpected and lewd noises. The inappropriate sounds, described as similar to sexual moaning, were first audible after the group containing Switzerland, Scotland, Hungary and host nation Germany was announced.
Giorgio Marchetti, the Deputy General Secretary of UEFA, who was hosting the event, attempted to maintain control, stating that the noise had stopped. However, further sporadic interruptions continued throughout the rest of the draw proceedings.
In January 2023, comparable noises were heard during a BBC broadcast of an FA Cup match between Wolverhampton and Liverpool, forcing the media company to later apologise. The incident was revealed to be a mobile phone prank.
When asked by the Press Association news agency if he noticed the noises, England manager Gareth Southgate said he did, and assumed it was some kind of prank. In contrast, Rob Page, the Wales coach, did not hear anything out of the ordinary.
UEFA declined to comment but understands the governing body will be reviewing the occurrence to determine precisely what transpired and how.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
