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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gavin Berry

RB Leipzig in pre Rangers song controversy after 'refusing' to play Union Berlin anthem over Russia likeness

Things didn’t go to plan for RB Leipzig against Union Berlin after their late collapse saw them slump to defeat in the Bundesliga.

And off the park Rangers’ Europa League semi final rivals were caught up in a bit of controversy at the weekend.

The win was a bit of revenge for Union Berlin who lost to RB a few days earlier when the sides met in the semi-final of the German Cup.

But while the side from the German capital celebrated at full time they weren’t dancing to their own tune before the game.

That’s because, according to a report in Bild, RB Leipzig refused to play Union Berlin’s club anthem before the game.

The reason is apparently the similarity to the national anthem of Russia which they feared would cause a stir.

(REUTERS)

It’s traditional for RB Leipzig to play the anthem of the visitors at the Red Bull Arena - where Rangers are the visitors on Thursday - but not on this occasion.

Around 600 Ukrainian refugees were guests for the fixture between the German rivals and RB Leipzig didn’t want to risk offending them by blaring out the anthem.

RB Leipzig felt the line in Union Berlin’s club ditty, sung by German songstress Nina Hagen, "Victory before your eyes - look far ahead! Let's move through the nation together” was too similar to the Russia national anthem.

Union Berlin continue to play the song before their own home games but reportedly accepted RB’s reasons.

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