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Munich Court Convicts YouTuber Over EM Fake Mascot Stunt

The ruling underscores that investigative motives do not excuse crimes under German law.

Overview

  • The Munich court, which delivered its verdict Wednesday, imposed 60 day-fines of €150 and ordered the seizure of €5,400 from video earnings.
  • Prosecutors proved that Marvin Wildhage used a knockoff mascot suit and forged accreditations to reach the field during the Euro 2024 opener in Munich.
  • The judge said journalism does not grant a free pass to commit crimes and found him guilty of document forgery and obtaining services by deception.
  • Wildhage filmed the stunt for YouTube, where the video drew millions of views, and the court treated part of that ad income as proceeds tied to the offense.
  • He had first received a penal order and then forced a public hearing by objecting, and the case has fueled debate over event security and how creators test it.