"Victoria" fans do not go to Minsk because of...fear!
The Czech fans fear of the severe Belarusian weather, authoritarianism and uncertainty, therefore only 20 people will come to Minsk to support their team.
The Czech newspaper Dnes writes that the small number of people willing to go to Minsk is also connected with the name of the rival which is less attractive in comparison with Barcelona and Milan.
Most fans explain their unwillingness to go by absence of money and spare time. However, such comments as "There's nothing surprising about that, many people are afraid of unfamiliar environment, everyone knows how frightful it is in the East" are also not that rare at forums.
Roman Bakala, head of the fans organization Pfans, also doesn't go to the game. He says about his worries with regard to a visit to "the country headed by authoritarian President Lukashenka": "I wouldn't say that this is an excuse. I talked to the fans and many of them told me they were not going because this is Belarus and no one knows what will happen there in terms of security".
Meanwhile, "Victoria" players are more afraid of striker Kežman than of Lukashenka. Midfielder Daniel Kolar has said before the game that he doesn't think that BATE's playing style will seriously differ from the one they showed in Prague. He has noted that they are in a good fit and have their own style.
"Apart from that, they have Mateja Kežman and he is a strong personality. This means that the rival will not be easy for us", reports Kolar's words the on-line version of the newspaper Dnes.