A seemingly innocuous social media post from UEFA has reignited a bitter rivalry, sparking a wave of protests and backlash from AS Roma fans directed at Spanish club Sevilla. The controversy centers on a recent online exchange that has dragged a nearly year-old wound back into the spotlight.
The Spark That Lit the Fire
It all started when UEFA's official accounts posted a photo commemorating the 2023 Europa League final. The image showed the two teams—Sevilla and AS Roma—entering the pitch at Budapest's Puskas Arena ahead of their clash on May 31, 2023. Sevilla, who won that match in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in extra time, decided to share UEFA's post with an added twist.
The Spanish club accompanied the repost with a picture of their former striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, kissing the trophy after the victory. The caption, addressed "from the admin to all Roma fans in the comments," was perceived as a deliberate provocation. This move immediately triggered a flood of angry reactions from the Giallorossi faithful across social media platforms.
Roma Fans Fire Back
The response from Roma supporters was swift and creative. Many took to the comments section to post the logo of Spain's second division, a pointed reference to Sevilla's current struggles in La Liga and their absence from European competition this season. Others focused their ire on the officiating from that fateful night.
Numerous references and photomontages targeted English referee Anthony Taylor, whose performance was heavily criticized by Roma, notably by their then-manager José Mourinho. Edited images circulated showing Taylor wearing a Sevilla jersey or even replacing the Europa League trophy in the photo, with En-Nesyri appearing to kiss the referee instead. The practical takeaway here is clear: in the digital age, a club's social media strategy can have immediate and tangible consequences, fanning the flames of rivalry long after the final whistle.
Nearly a year later, it appears the battle of Budapest is still being fought—not on the grass, but in the comments section. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly online engagement can escalate, turning a simple commemorative post into a full-blown PR headache.
