Soccer Star Slams LINKIN PARK’s UEFA Champions League Performance: “Absolutely Garbage”

Soccer fans tuning into the UEFA Champions League final in Munich this past Saturday were met with an unexpected pre-game performance — a full-on Linkin Park concert. While the idea of one of the biggest nü-metal/alt-rock bands of all time kicking off one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events sounds like a winning combo, not everyone agreed.

Former Netherlands footballer Marco van Basten made headlines this weekend after tearing into the performance during a post-match broadcast with Dutch network Ziggo Sport. And he didn’t mince words:

“The Linkin Park performance was garbage, absolutely garbage. It’s a disgrace that UEFA allows this. I find it absolutely idiotic… Worthless, totally worthless.”

While it sounded like a personal dig at Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong, van Basten later clarified that his issue wasn’t with the band itself, but with the timing of the performance. Having such a massive act play right before kickoff could be a distraction to the players, he argued, suggesting it would have been better placed during halftime or post-match.

Still, calling it “garbage” feels like a bit more than just logistics. Maybe the retired footballer is just a hardcore Chester Bennington purist — a plausible theory in our newly forming soccer-meets-nü-metal headcanon.

Either way, Linkin Park will have plenty of chances to win over skeptics (or simply blow minds) as they hit the road this summer and fall. Their full list of upcoming shows can be found below.

6/12 Nickelsdorf, AT – Novarock Festival
6/14 Hradec Kralove, CZ – Rock for People Festival
6/16 Hannover, DE – Heinz-Von-Heiden Arena (+ Architects)
6/18 Berlin, DE – Olympiastadion (+ Architects)
6/20 Bern, CH – Bernexpo
6/24 Milan, IT – I-DAYS Festival
6/26 Arnhem, NL – Gelredome (+ Spiritbox)
6/28 London, UK – Wembley Stadium (+ Spiritbox & JPEGMAFIA)
7/01 Dusseldorf, DE – Merkur Spiel Arena (+ Architects & JPEGMAFIA)
7/03 Werchter, BE – Rock Werchter Festival
7/05 Gdynia, PL – Open’er Festival
7/08 Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park (+ Architects & JPEGMAFIA)
7/11 Paris, FR – Stade de France
7/29 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center (+ PVRIS)
8/01 Boston, MA – TD Garden (+ PVRIS)
8/03 Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (+ PVRIS)
8/06 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre (+ PVRIS)
8/08 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena (+ PVRIS)
8/11 Chicago, IL – United Center (+ PVRIS)
8/14 Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena (+ PVRIS)
8/16 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (+ Jean Dawson)
8/19 Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena (+ Jean Dawson)
8/21 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (+ Jean Dawson)
8/23 St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center (+ Jean Dawson)
8/25 Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum (+ Jean Dawson)
8/27 Minneapolis, MN – Target Center (+ Jean Dawson)
8/29 Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center (+ Jean Dawson)
8/31 Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center (+ Jean Dawson)
9/03 Denver, CO – Ball Arena (+ Jean Dawson)
9/06 Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center (+ Jean Dawson)
9/13 Los Angeles, CA – Venue TBA (+ JPEGMAFIA)
9/15 San Jose, CA – SAP Center (+ JPEGMAFIA)
9/17 Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center (+ JPEGMAFIA)
9/19 Portland, OR – Moda Center (+ JPEGMAFIA)
9/21 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena (+ JPEGMAFIA)
9/24 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena (+ JPEGMAFIA)
10/26 Bogota, CO – Venue TBA
10/29 Lima, PE – Venue TBA
11/01 Buenos Aires, AR – Venue TBA
11/05 Santiago, CL – Venue TBA
11/10 São Paulo, BR – Venue TBA
11/13 Brasilia, BR – Venue TBA

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