Dutch contestant Joost Klein has been expelled from Saturday’s Eurovision Track Contest closing after a criticism by a member of the manufacturing crew, organizers stated, including to the complications for host Sweden because it additionally grapples with anti-Israel protests.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had stated on Friday it was investigating an incident involving Klein, 26, whose quirky tune Europapa had made him one of many favourites.

The 68th model of the competition, usually a pageant of catchy songs and tongue-in-cheek kitsch, is going down amid protests in host metropolis Malmo over the participation of Israel, because of its conflict in Gaza.

Swedish police earlier on Saturday stated a person had been questioned for threatening a Eurovision worker inside Malmo Area following the competitors’s second semifinal on Thursday.

The particular person was not detained, police stated with out naming the person, including the matter had been referred to a prosecutor.

“Whereas the authorized course of takes its course, it might not be applicable for him (Joost) to proceed within the contest,” the EBU stated in an announcement.

A consultant for Klein didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Expulsion unprecedented, says commentator

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS stated in an e-mail it was “shocked” by the EBU’s resolution and thought of it “disproportionate.”

Eurovision knowledgeable Paul Jordan informed Reuters it was unprecedented for an artist to be expelled on the eve of the ultimate.

“Clearly we do not know what’s occurred now. He might be discovered harmless,” Jordan stated. “I simply assume it is an incredible disgrace, however the present should go on, as they are saying.”

The incident has nothing to do with the Israeli delegation, AVROTROS Eurovision commentator Cornald Maas stated.

“It’s, amongst different issues, hellish for Joost Klein, who’s a unifier, and his crew,” Maas wrote on social media platform X.

Bookmakers have Croatia’s Child Lasagna, actual identify Marko Purisic, 28, with Rim Tim Tagi Dim, as front-runner to win the competition, adopted by Israeli solo artist Eden Golan, 20, along with her tune Hurricane.

Different nations excessive on the betting record embrace France, Italy, Ukraine and Eire. Streaming information from Spotify additionally suggests an opportunity for host nation Sweden.

After Klein’s disqualification, 25 nations will compete in Saturday night’s grand closing.

Requires Israel to be excluded

Billed as a feel-good celebration of European variety, this yr’s contest has been thrust into the political highlight with protesters — on-line and on the streets of Malmo — calling for Israel to be excluded from the competitors.

Eurovision organizers have resisted such calls, however demanded that Israel tweak the lyrics of its authentic entry to take away what they stated had been references to Palestinian group Hamas’s lethal Oct. 7 assault on Israel, which sparked its conflict on Gaza.

Some booing was heard from the group earlier than, throughout and after Golan’s efficiency within the semifinals on Thursday, however there was additionally applause and Israeli flags being waved, in keeping with a Reuters journalist within the auditorium.

In central Malmo, greater than 10,000 pro-Palestinian campaigners, together with local weather activist Greta Thunberg, staged a non-violent protest forward of the semifinal, waiving Palestinian flags and shouting “boycott Israel.”

A smaller group of pro-Israeli supporters, together with members of Malmo’s Jewish group, additionally staged a peaceable demonstration within the metropolis, defending Golan and her proper to participate within the contest.

Extra demonstrations are deliberate for Saturday and once more anticipated to attract 1000’s of protesters. There can even be another music pageant within the metropolis that has billed itself because the “genocide-free tune contest.”

Protesters have complained of double requirements because the EBU banned Russia from Eurovision in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

“After all individuals wish to categorical their very own opinions and stuff like that. However for us, , it is only a dream and an honour to be part of Eurovision,” Marcus Gunnarsen, of duo Marcus & Martinus, which is representing Sweden, informed Reuters.