“I think it’s a joke”
Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß has spoken out vehemently against playoff games in the Bundesliga. “That’s just a law against Bayern Munich,” said the 70-year-old on the program “Sport and Talk from Hangar-7” on “Servus TV” about the recent debate about a changed game mode: “I find it ridiculous. In the Bundesliga, after 34 match days, the champion should be the one who has gone through thick and thin with his team.”
The fight for the title in the Bundesliga has been characterized for years by the dominance of Bayern, who, as table leaders, are currently aiming for their tenth championship in a row. The introduction of a playoff mode “has nothing to do with tension,” says Hoeneß.
The former Bayern president also found clear words about the advance of the new DFL boss Donata Hopfen: “The new managing director of the DFL is now thinking day and night about how we can break the dominance of FC Bayern. And now they come up with this idea.”
Hoeneß: Then “they decide that we can only play with ten people”
There are no playoffs in any major football league in the world, Hoeneß argued: “Not in England, not in France, not in Spain, not in Italy. The knockout system is in the DFB Cup, the knockout system is in the Champions League. And the championship has to be won by whoever is the best team throughout the year.”
The 70-year-old also referred to the already full schedule: “At the end of the season, when everyone is broken, still having playoffs with semifinals and finals, I think it’s a joke.” That Bayern boss Oliver Kahn is open to a debate had shown about the playoffs, Hoeneß commented briefly: “That’s his opinion, it’s not mine.” Finally, he commented sarcastically on the subject on the show: “If you don’t get any further with it, you decide that we only play with ten people may.”
Highest home defeats in the Bundesliga: With Gladbach, Freiburg & Bayern
That’s what TM users say about the playoff debate
The playoff idea is also the subject of controversy in the TM community. For TM user gaga81, introducing playoffs would be “a total downgrade of the league. […] Of course there are always other champions, but it’s not fair.”
To me, playoffs are a total downgrade of the league. Check out the regular season attendances for leagues with playoffs. The numbers are going down. In the NFL, the stadiums are sometimes only 2/3 full at clubs towards the end. Some of the tickets can be bought for $10. Also clearly visible in ice hockey or basketball.
I think it’s worse that the teams that have had a great season end up losing everything just because 2-3 players are injured. …
User “Mr Ripley” would also be critical of the playoffs: “That would tinker with the symptoms, but not the causes of boredom in the Bundesliga. […] Yes, then there will definitely be another champion every 8 to 10 years, but at what price?”
This would tinker with the symptoms, but not the causes of the boredom in the Bundesliga.
Yes, then there will definitely be another master every 8 to 10 years, but at what price?
It also kind of goes against the essence of the European league system. I used to say to American colleagues – with a wink – that football doesn’t need that, it’s exciting and entertaining without the knockout drama. Unfortunately, that’s no longer true, but we can’t get it cured…
“Playoffs would probably even make the current situation worse”
“Playoffs would probably even make the current situation worse. The ‘playoff teams’ would generate extra money again and set themselves apart from the rest (substructure Bundesliga and second division),” continues “Mr Ripley”. However, user “ralf81” can gain something from the idea under certain conditions:
“I find playoffs interesting in general, but not in a one-piece league. If you think you can only keep the fight for the championship exciting with playoffs, then you would inevitably have to play in two groups. Because playoffs at the end of a single-track championship round are pointless for me and devalue the regular round too much. But then we would be very close to the American model.”
I find playoffs interesting in general, but not in a one-piece league. If you think you can only keep the fight for the championship exciting with playoffs, then you would inevitably have to play in two groups. Because playoffs at the end of a single-track championship round are pointless for me and devalue the regular round too much. But then we would be very close to the American model (you may or may not like that)
It could then look like this:
– League o…
The user “StehplKnipser” draws a comparison to ice hockey: “I’ve been an ice hockey fan for 25 years, playoffs are normal there. Such a system has advantages and disadvantages. Some games in the preliminary round lose massively in importance, but the playoff time is much, much more intense for fans. […] It’s an interesting thought, but those up there should ditch the idea that they can squeeze a little more money out of additional PO games.”
I’ve been an ice hockey fan for 25 years, so playoffs are normal. Such a system has advantages and disadvantages. Some games in the preliminary round lose massively in importance, but the PO time is much, much more intense for fans. What would that mean for the Bundesliga?
Non-derbies and games against non-traditional clubs will hardly attract spectators because they become uninteresting without tabillary proximity. In ice hockey, more than half the league plays for PO places, so in such a system, only …
Neuer draws level with Kahn: player with the most Bundesliga victories
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