A 2026 World Cup fan has spoken out for the first time since being hospitalised for waving a rainbow-coloured flag in Canada, as he travelled to watch Germany vs Ivory Coast.
33-year-old Alex Alber travelled to Toronto from Berlin to watch his country in their second group game of the tournament, as Julian Nagelsmann’s side overcame Ivory Coast with a late Deniz Undav winner.
Alex took to the streets of Toronto with two of his friends to celebrate Germany’s second win of the tournament. It was then that he was allegedly attacked and injured by a group of individuals believed to be motivated by homophobia at a sports bar.
The 33-year-old has now released a statement on the incident and shared images of the injuries that he sustained in the alleged attack.
World Cup fan releases statement after alleged attack
Alex revealed that the injuries he suffered were so bad that he had to go to hospital.
Sharing details of the alleged attack, the German fan said: “We were out at Club Paris Texas in Toronto. A friend brought a rainbow fan. That was enough. It started with slurs from a group of guys, early twenties. It ended with us being attacked. This photo is the result.
“I’m okay now. The jersey didn’t survive. A $5,000 medical bill did. But that’s not what leaves me speechless.
“What does: people in their early twenties, a generation we keep calling more open than the last, still carrying this kind of hate. I’m not gay myself. But I know the LGBTQ+ community lives with this every single day, and that’s exactly why I won’t stay silent.
“For us, that fan means one thing. Everyone gets to be who they are. Freedom. Diversity. People living as themselves. Experiencing this as a guest in someone else’s country breaks my heart.
“And the club was only the tip of the iceberg. My friend got harassed all day, in the stadium, by other fans, by German fans too. This isn’t about one nation. It’s everywhere, and that’s the point.”
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Alex also urged others to “stand against” homophobia after sharing that the police have been notified: “We’ve spoken to the police. We have photos and videos of the people who did this. We’re deciding our next steps.
“This World Cup has written some beautiful stories. This is one of its ugly ones, and pretending it doesn’t exist helps no one. So we’re sharing it.
“To raise our voice and say it plainly: we will never tolerate this, and we will stand against it every single time. And to you: if you ever see something like this, step in. Don’t look away. Everyone deserves to be exactly who they are. That’s what we radiate.”
He showed the extent of his injuries on social media.
Germany have already confirmed their place at the top of Group E and are likely to face Panama in the Round of 32, as Nagelsmann’s side aim to kick on following a solid start.
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