After the lawsuit by Bundesliga club RB Leipzig against the maximum number of spectators in the stadium, it is still unclear when the Saxon Higher Administrative Court (OVG) will make a decision.
The association’s urgent application was received by the court in Bautzen on January 28, said spokesman Thomas Ranft. The Free State of Saxony is now given an opportunity to comment. After that, RB Leipzig could also comment again. “A fixed time frame until the Senate makes a decision can therefore not be given,” explained Ranft.
RB opposes the Saxon Corona rules, which currently allow a maximum of 1000 spectators at home games. The Bundesliga club wants to ensure that more audiences are allowed into the stadium again. Leipzig’s next home game is on February 11 against 1. FC Köln. On February 1st, the Free State of Saxony wants to issue a new Corona Protection Ordinance, which will apply from February 6th. It is expected that the audience cap will already have changed.
FSV Mainz 05, on the other hand, does not want to take legal action to get more spectators into the stadium. Sports director Christian Heidel finds such an approach “completely legitimate”, but sees a different situation at his club. “We had talks, also with the state government. It has now made it possible for 6,800 spectators – 20 percent – to come to the next home game. This is a step in the right direction for us,” said Heidel of the German Press Agency. “There’s nothing for us to complain about at first,” added the 58-year-old.
Mainz will play their next home game on January 5 (3:30 p.m.) against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. According to the new version of the Corona Control Ordinance of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, 20 percent of the spectator capacity in the Mewa Arena may be used. According to Bundesliga agreements, five percent of the contingent is available for fans from Hoffenheim, which corresponds to 340 tickets. Most recently, only 1,000 spectators were allowed to watch the 1-0 win against VfL Bochum in the stadium in Mainz.