Fans of Club Brugge arrested for impersonating comedian in Kazakhstan

Three Club Brugge supporters were arrested in Kazakhstan on Tuesday and sentenced to five days in jail after being found guilty of showing disrespect and disturbing public order during a UEFA Champions League match against Kairat Almaty.

The incident occurred at the Astana Arena, where over 500 Club Brugge fans had traveled from Belgium to watch the match. Prior to the game, three supporters wore “mankinis” - a type of swimwear made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen’s character Borat in his film “Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”.

According to reports from the Astana police, the trio were arrested and taken into custody after being found to have committed acts that showed disrespect and disturbed public order. Administrative proceedings were initiated against them, resulting in a sentence of five days in jail.

The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is monitoring the situation and offering consular support to its citizens. However, further details about the incident are not being disclosed for privacy reasons.

It is worth noting that Sacha Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Borat has been subject to controversy in Kazakhstan, with authorities initially discouraging screenings of the film due to concerns over its perceived insult to the country’s national character.

Source: Al Jazeera