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Black Shirts and Banned Flags: Ultras Push Politics at Euro 2024
Hard-core fan groups, embracing a strong nationalistic streak, have provoked pushback from soccer’s authorities at the European Championship.
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
I am focused on stories about Germany’s multiple simultaneous transformations. Besides its vaunted green-energy transformation, the country is becoming more ethnically and culturally diverse. Politically, Germany is struggling to rebalance as war in Europe has shattered the steady period of growth under Angela Merkel. I also cover the rise of populism and the far right, which is especially concerning given Germany’s past.
Raised in Germany and Canada and trained in the U.S. and France, I’ve reported from a dozen countries, mostly in Europe. I got my start at The Times as an intern for the paper’s international edition in Paris (which was then called The International Herald Tribune), where I covered sustainability and higher education. Before moving to Berlin in 2018, I reported from the Netherlands, where I covered stories like the far-right populist Geert Wilders, Amsterdam’s red light district, nearly-legal cannabis and tulip auction houses. In Germany, I have covered breaking news, including crime and terrorist attacks, and I’ve explored bigger themes, such as climate-change adaptation, Germany’s military transformation and East Germany’s communist past.
All Times journalists are committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I strive to be accurate and fair in all of my reporting, even if that means pushing back on established narratives. Like all of my colleagues, I refuse gifts, favors, or money. I also refuse special treatment that might interfere with the fairness of my reporting. I identify myself as a reporter for The Times when speaking to sources.
Email: [email protected]
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Hard-core fan groups, embracing a strong nationalistic streak, have provoked pushback from soccer’s authorities at the European Championship.
By Rory Smith and Christopher F. Schuetze
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