Three supporters of the belgian football club Club Brugge have been jailed in Kazakhstan following a champions League match, after authorities deemed their attire a public order offense. The fans were sentenced to five days in jail after appearing at Tuesday’s match against Qairat Almaty dressed in the iconic mankini made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen’s character Borat [[1]]. The incident highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the satirical depiction of Kazakhstan in the 2006 film and demonstrates the country’s strict enforcement of public decency laws [[3]].
<p class="article-lead">Three Club Brugge fans are facing five days in jail after a Champions League match in Kazakhstan, after authorities took issue with their attire.</p><p>Klicken, um die Teilen-Funktion zu öffnen.
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<img alt="Mann in grüner Badebekleidung auf Strand mit Menschenmenge." class="image__img" loading="lazy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7"/>
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Iconic Borat Costume
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This disguise landed three Belgian fans in trouble in Kazakhstan.
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IMAGO/Capital Pictures
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</figcaption>Three Club Brugge supporters have been sentenced to five days in jail in Kazakhstan after appearing at Tuesday’s Champions League match against Qairat Almaty dressed as the character Borat. The ruling, handed down Thursday by a court in Astana, cited “violations of public order.” Club Brugge secured a 4-1 victory in the Group D contest.
Video footage circulating from Kazakh television showed the three fans wearing the signature green mankinis popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2006 film, *Borat*. According to the court, “While intoxicated in the stands of the Astana Arena, S., D., and N. removed their clothing, remained in their underwear, and sang in order to attract attention.”
The comedic portrayal of Kazakhstan in the *Borat* film is widely considered offensive within the country, and authorities have previously cracked down on displays referencing the character. In 2024, a flag featuring Borat was confiscated from a Chelsea fan during a match involving FC Astana. This incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding the film’s depiction of the nation.
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