You good Boys in Green! Fans help robbed Austrians
THEY came from Vienna and ended up in a fix after their match tickets and cash were robbed before the Ireland versus Austria clash in Dublin.
However, thanks to the generosity of Irish supporters, the two visiting Austrian fans got to see the game and even got their stolen money reimbursed, after their tale of woe went online.
Stefan Madlener, 22, and 21year-old Valeria Lampert were enjoying their first break in Ireland when an opportunistic thief struck as they browsed in a music shop in the city.
The Vienna University students, who arrived for in Dublin on Friday, only realised that they had fallen victim to petty criminals when they returned home to their hotel later on Monday night.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Mr Madlener said his girlfriend discovered her wallet was missing from her handbag including the match tickets along with money, driving licence and her cards. Recalling that she had last seen her purse in Tower Records on Wicklow Street at around 1pm, he contacted the Austrian fan embassy in Dublin to report the stolen tickets and to get them replaced. But after embassy official Thomas Gassler heard their story, he shared their misfortune on the fan’s Facebook page and was immediately inundated with generous offers from Irish sup- porters. News quickly spread on social media sites and fans decided to chip in and help the couple out. A collection was started on the popular internet forum You Boys In Green and dozens of fans promised donations. Ashamed that the young couple could be targeted in broad daylight, the fan forum received offers of more than €500 pledged to the couple to help them cover their losses by the end of yesterday. Mr Madlener also received replacement tickets to the match from the FAI and was even taken for drinks to drown his sorrows by fans.
He beamed: ‘It is amazing how everyone showed solidarity. We will be able to go to stadium now and are really happy. We came here as we wanted to
‘We have found people so warm’
see the match and Irish landscape. But we have found the people so warm and helpful.’
Thanking everyone for their kind offers of free tours to the Guinness Storehouse and a bookmaker for a free bet, he said the only complaint he had was the weather here. ‘Your country is so cold,’ he said.
And in a new twist last night, RTÉ reporter Caitríona Perry tweeted that she had been contacted by a viewer who said she had found Ms Lampert’s wallet, albeit without the tickets or money but with her cards.
Sadly the Irish side also extended their generosity to the Austrian team, conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw.