Swedish Newspaper Apologises for Comparing Red Bull Salzburg to Hitler

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Ahead of Malmo's Champions League play-off clash with Red Bull Salzburg, a Swedish newspaper took the opportunity to cast the Austrian club in a very unfavourable light. 

Ronnie Sandahl, a journalist for Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, compared the reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions to two of that nation's most derided figures: Adolf Hitler and Josef Fritzl. 

The Guardian translates:

"

Austria has not only given us Josef Fritzl and Adolf Hitler. There is also Red Bull Salzburg, the most hated football club of our time.

When they play each other in the two decisive Champions League games people from all over the world will be support [sic] the Swedes.

"

The Guardian note that the Austrian FA called the statement "utterly thoughtless," while Salzburg’s sporting director Ralf Rangnick confirmed that the Swedish paper's editor-in-chief has formally apologised.

Salzburg had the last laugh, emerging 2-1 winners in the first leg.