During the Champions League anthem, ball boys shake the banner with the tournament logo. Where did this tradition come from?

With the introduction of the new Champions League format, UEFA also revamped the tournament's anthem, making it more orchestral. However, one tradition that has remained unchanged is the practice of shaking the banner with the Champions League logo during the anthem. It turns out that this feature originated by accident.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the European Cup was losing popularity, primarily due to the limited financial returns from the tournament. At that time, the president of AC Milan, Silvio Berlusconi, even proposed that top clubs create a separate Super League. As a result, UEFA hired a team of marketers to enhance the prestige and financial benefits of the Champions League.

These marketers did an excellent job. First, they organized a unified television pool, with UEFA securing the broadcasting rights. They then increased the number of sponsors for both the tournament and the clubs. Finally, they developed the new format's graphics, visuals, and anthem—transforming the European Cup into the Champions League.

Of course, the marketers also created the iconic logo, which they decided to showcase on a giant banner before the matches. However, in the first games of the new Champions League, the banner lay on the grass. On December 9, 1992, before the match between PSV and AC Milan, ball boys first stretched and shook it during the anthem. It turned out that the guys had not fully understood the concept of "take it out, lay it down, take it back" and, out of nervousness, began to tug at the banner.

Ultimately, the gesture resonated so much with fans and organizers that it became a staple of the tournament from the next round of the Champions League. Now, it’s hard to imagine the opening of any Champions League game without this tradition!

Published by Patrick Jane
02.10.2024