Florin Păun, organizer of the Festobal manele festival, announced that the event will no longer take place at Bucharest’s Arena Națională, citing intense opposition from Mihai Stoica, chairman of FCSB’s board, and alleged behind-the-scenes interference involving the City Hall of Bucharest.
Păun revealed that an initial agreement to rent the stadium was reached in mid-May, including dates and financial terms. However, weeks later, Mihai Stoica launched sharp public attacks against the festival, claiming that hosting manele music would harm the FCSB football team’s image and performance. These statements were widely echoed by the media, contributing to a hostile environment that led the organizers to withdraw from signing the contract.
The organizer accused Stoica of having insider information from City Hall and suggested a possible collusion between FCSB and local authorities aimed at blocking the festival. Păun expressed frustration over the personal attacks and defamation, stating that many FCSB supporters had already bought tickets. Yet, due to the relentless criticism, they decided to cancel the event at the venue.
This decision has sporting implications as well: the Romanian football derby between Dinamo București and FCSB, scheduled for August 2nd—the same weekend originally planned for Festobal—could now be played at the Arena Națională rather than being relocated to the smaller Arcul de Triumf Stadium. This benefits FCSB, allowing them easier access to the national stadium for domestic league matches and potentially for their Champions League preliminary fixtures if played in Bucharest.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between football governance, local authorities, and cultural events in Romania, reflecting deeper issues of influence and image management within the country’s football and entertainment sectors.