"Your day of reckoning will come" — at the UEFA Nations League match, Finnish fans unfurled a massive banner depicting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the likeness of a cockroach, and sang a song directed at Putin to welcome the Belarus national team.

On September 29, the Finland vs. Belarus fixture held at Helsinki Olympic Stadium was imbued with political significance even before kickoff.

Before the match, players from the Finnish national team wore T-shirts reading "We stand for peace" during their warm-up.

In the stands, numerous vocal and visual expressions of dissent against the Belarusian regime were evident throughout the venue.

About five minutes before kick-off, fans in the northern stand began singing a widely circulated anthem originating from Kharkiv, whose lyrics criticize Russia’s leadership.

The stands also displayed the Ukrainian flag and the white-red-white banner of the Belarusian opposition.

When the Belarusian national anthem was played, Finnish supporters drowned out the music with loud whistles and chants, effectively disrupting the official rendition.

Following this, fans continued to sing the song targeting Putin.

Just prior to the whistle, the northern stand revealed a large-scale banner bearing the message: "Your day of reckoning will come."

The image depicted an owl silently approaching, alongside a cockroach resembling Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The match between Finland and Belarus had been controversial ahead of its scheduled date.

In March, the Finnish Football Association initially decided to host the game at a neutral venue. In May, it reversed course and confirmed Helsinki Olympic Stadium as the site. The match ended goalless, with both sides drawing 0–0.

The participation of Belarus, a nation perceived as supportive of Russia in the ongoing conflict, in international competitions has drawn criticism from several member associations of FIFA and UEFA.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1877710351177732/

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