Passport to freedom

Date: 23/05/1996

Jorg Haider, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, was denied his freedom for four hours on a recent visit to Brussels.

Haider, enemy of Austria's immigrant community, was on his way to watch the European Cup Winners' Cup final between Paris St. Germain and Rapid Vienna, but a forgotten passport meant he saw more of Zaventem airport than he would have liked. Haider was herded into a room packed with illegal immigrants until the Austrian embassy negotiated his release. His spokesman later said he was surprised that a group of “black Africans” had been processed more quickly than Haider himself. “It was a multi-cultural experience that we won't forget in a hurry,” he added. Things didn't get much better after Haider's release: Paris beat Vienna 1-0.