Kanye West concert blocked by Swiss football club

Swiss champions FC Basel reject a Kanye West concert at their stadium, citing a clash with club values amid the artist’s ongoing controversies.

SWISS football club FC Basel confirmed on Monday they had turned down an approach to stage a Kanye West concert at their St. Jakob-Park stadium.

The club stated the decision was made after a thorough review and in accordance with its values.

“In this case, FCB received an enquiry and considered it,” a club spokesman told AFP. “However, after a thorough review, we decided not to pursue the project further, as we cannot, in accordance with our values, provide a platform for the artist in question within this context.”

The 48-year-old US rapper, also known as Ye, has faced widespread criticism for making antisemitic remarks and expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler. He has previously said “I love Nazis”, sold t-shirts featuring a swastika, and released a track titled “Heil Hitler”.

No concert at the 40,000-capacity venue was ever officially confirmed, but it is understood the club was approached about a possible date in June. The stadium is Switzerland’s largest and hosted the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final.

The rejection is the latest in a series of setbacks for West’s planned European tour. Britain has blocked the artist from entering the country, leading to the cancellation of a headline London festival.

A concert in Marseille was postponed after French authorities voiced opposition, while a venue in Poland cancelled a scheduled show following condemnation of his remarks. West has attributed his controversial behaviour to a “manic episode” brought on by bipolar disorder.

In January, he took out a full-page advert in The Wall Street Journal to declare “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite”.