Belarus was given boot from Eurovision over ‘no dissent’ songs

Decision taken despite the risk of politicising music competition, head of European Broadcasting Union says

Belarus had to be banned from this year's Eurovision after it repeatedly submitted songs calling for no dissent" despite the risk of the decision politicising the music competition, the head of the event's organising body has said.

Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the industry body that produces the annual international competition, said a stand needed to be taken with Belarus cracking down on anti-government protests, while also conceding the danger of stoking controversy over future country submissions.