Joost Klein, the Netherlands’ entry in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest who was thrown out of the competition, is to be charged with making illegal threats, according to Swedish police.

The 26-year-old singer missed two of the contest’s dress rehearsals on Friday and his expulsion was announced on Saturday morning, hours before the grand final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it was acting on a “complaint made by a female member of production staff after an incident at the end of his performance in Thursday’s semi-final”.

“We are not prejudging the judicial process, but while it continues it would be inappropriate for him to take part in the contest,” it said in a statement.

Swedish police spokesman Jimmy Modin told The Associated Press that the investigation was now complete and a decision on whether to press charges was expected “within a couple of weeks”.

The police officer in charge of the case, Emil Andersson, told Swedish broadcaster SVT that “there will probably be a prosecution” and that an “accelerated prosecution” process would be used because the altercation did not involve a serious crime.

Swedish media reported that the Dutch singer had pushed a female photographer at the end of one of Friday’s dress rehearsals. However, the Netherlands’ broadcaster Avrotros said that “against clear agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just left the stage and had to go to the green room”.

“At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This was not respected. This led to a threatening movement by Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camera woman”, Avrotros said, adding that it had “consulted extensively” with the EBU and “proposed several solutions”, but the decision to disqualify the artist was taken anyway.

The expulsion also came after the Dutch singer was involved in a tense moment with Israel’s entry, Eden Golan. At a press conference, a Polish journalist asked the Israeli artist about her responsibility for the heightened terror alert in Malmö. “By being here, you are a security risk and a danger to everyone. Do you not care about that?” he asked.

The press conference moderator reminded Golan that she did not have to answer the question. “Why not?” the Dutch artist asked loudly. The incident went viral on social media.

Joost Klein in Europapa:
"I don't care who you are, I don't care where you're from"

Also Joost Klein:
"Why not" after the Polish journalist blamed Eden Golan for all the threats she gets by radical Islamists, all the while he covers his head with the Dutch flag.

So… pic.twitter.com/aCbOvDiB82

— Ella Travels (Ella Kenan) (@EllaTravelsLove) May 10, 2024

Joost Klein represented the Netherlands with ‘Europapa’, a song that is an ode to Europe and a world without borders, as well as a tribute to his parents who died when the singer was a teenager.

According to figures released in the early hours of Saturday, ‘Europapa’ came second in Thursday’s second semi-final, behind only Israel.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö, Sweden, between 7th and 11th May and, despite criticism over Israel’s participation, was eventually won by Switzerland, the world’s most neutral country, with Nemo and ‘The Code’.

Read Also: Brussels criticises ban on EU flag in Eurovision final (Portuguese version)