The Cluj-Napoca Court of First Instance sentenced a Cluj-Napoca football fan to two years and ten months in prison—suspended for a three-year probationary period—and ordered him to pay damages for attacking a young Hungarian man on March 31 of last year, causing serious injuries. The verdict, handed down on May 15, is not yet final, Actualdecluj.ro reported.
The incident occurred on March 31, 2025, in Cluj-Napoca (Romania, Kolozsvár) following a match between two local football teams. The 37-year-old attacker—a fan of Universitatea Cluj—threw a glass at a 19-year-old Hungarian youth supporting the opposing team, striking him in the face, says Hungary Today.
According to the medical report, his actions caused injuries that will take 95–100 days to heal.
According to witness testimony, the victim also suffered psychological trauma as a result of the attack. Although he attended the sports department at the local university and was an active soccer player, after the incident he became withdrawn, was afraid to leave the house, and stopped playing sports for an extended period.
The defendant admitted his guilt from the outset and requested a simplified procedure. The court found him guilty of assault, disturbing the peace, and making a public disturbance. In its ruling, the court also took into account that the man had previously been banned from U matches due to problematic behavior, and that the defendant had repeatedly acted aggressively in connection with the rivalry between the two clubs.
As a result of his actions, he must pay 19,086 lei (3,651 euros) and 3,392 euros in compensation for the victim’s medical expenses. Furthermore, the court ordered him to pay 30,000 euros in moral damages. In addition, he must perform 90 days of community service.
The first-instance verdict is subject to appeal.
On the night of the attack, two 19-year-old boys notified the Cluj-Napoca police that, following a match between two local soccer teams, unknown assailants had attacked them in the city center; one of them was struck in the head with a bottle, breaking his nose and causing multiple injuries to his face.
The victim’s uncle told the press that the attackers were U ultras who had followed the boys and, in his opinion, attacked them because they were speaking Hungarian, as they were not wearing any club insignia that would have indicated they were supporters of the rival team.
During the trial, the defendant denied that his actions were premeditated. The Cluj County Police, who conducted the investigation, and subsequently the prosecutor’s office concluded that there was no evidence to suggest the attack was ethnically or racially motivated.
There has been a decades-long rivalry between CFR Cluj and Universitatea Cluj. The CFR fan base includes a large number of Hungarians, who often become targets of the U ultras.
