Kazakhstan police confiscate item found with Chelsea fans

Chelsea fans
Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Chelsea fans’ creative attempt to bring humour to their UEFA Conference League clash in Kazakhstan didn’t go down well with local authorities, as police confiscated a Borat-inspired flag at the Almaty Ortalyg Stadium.

The Blues secured a 3-1 victory against Astana, with Enzo Maresca fielding several youth players. The result virtually guaranteed Chelsea’s place in the last 16, much to the delight of the fans who braved the 3,500-mile journey and minus-12-degree weather to support their team.

Among the travelling supporters was a group with a specially made banner, shared on the TikTok account @cfchomeandaway. The flag featured Sacha Baron Cohen’s controversial character Borat Sagdiyev wearing a Chelsea shirt, giving a thumbs-up while holding multiple flags. The banner read: “Following Chelsea home and away,” alongside Borat’s infamous catchphrase, “very nice.”

However, the humour was lost on Kazakh authorities, who confiscated the flag upon entry to the stadium. “RIP flag, police didn’t see the funny side,” the TikTok post read.

Borat, a fictional Kazakh television journalist created by Cohen, has been a controversial figure in Kazakhstan. Many locals feel the satirical portrayal of their country in the mockumentary films is unfair and unjustified.

Despite the flag fiasco, Chelsea fans enjoyed the occasion as their team claimed a well-deserved victory in the frigid conditions. It was a memorable evening for both the players and the loyal supporters who went to extraordinary lengths to cheer on their club.