Ex-FCN professional Guido Burgstaller has apologized for the homophobic insults that he and other Rapid Vienna players sang after the victory in the Vienna derby against Austria Vienna.
For the first time in five years, Rapid Vienna won the city derby against Austria Vienna. The way the Hütteldorfer players celebrated the 3-0 triumph on Sunday caused outrage far beyond the city and state borders.
After the final whistle, players like ex-Nuremberg player Guido Burgstaller sang homophobic insults against opposing fans. This is proven by videos that were shared on the “X” platform. Accordingly, Burgstaller stood in the front row and sang: “We are not poor violets”. The players and fans of Austria Vienna, which has the flower in its coat of arms, are called violets.
On Tuesday (February 27, 2024), the club apologized in a public statement. Burgstaller expressed his regret in a post on Instagram.
Burgstaller: “Distancing ourselves from Discrimination and homophobia”
“I would like to take this opportunity to once again personally apologize to all of you on behalf of the people involved for our absolute misconduct after the derby win,” wrote the former 1. FC Nürnberg striker, who leads the green-whites onto the field as captain. “We all distance ourselves from any kind of discrimination and homophobia and will work on this issue internally in the club and the team and take further measures in this regard.”
Sports director Hofmann apologizes: “It was and is not appropriate”
The club, where former Nuremberg native Robert Klauß has been in the coaching bench since November of last year, had previously apologized for the incidents. Rapid sports director Steffen Hofmann had insulted the opponent using a megaphone and was remorseful. “The joy of winning the derby remains, as do my regrets about the choice of words,” said Hofmann, who was trained in FC Bayern’s youth ranks and later played for TSV 1860 Munich, among others, in the press release. “Despite all the rivalry, this was and is not appropriate.”
President Alexander Wrabetz and Vice-President Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger also commented on the incident: “The presidium of SK Rapid condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent homophobic statements surrounding the Vienna derby, which was such a sporting event. The denigration of people based on various characteristics or lifestyles should have no place at Rapid.”
League determines: Rapid threatens to lose points
The incident could also have sporting consequences for the current sixth-place team in the Austrian Bundesliga. The league announced Tuesday that it had filed a report with the league’s Penalty and Credentials Committee against those involved.
There is a risk of penalties such as suspensions and possible point deductions. This could significantly reduce Hütteldorfer’s chances of taking part in the championship round. In this, the champion is determined in Austria from among the six best teams after 22 match days. Robert Klauß’s team would currently be qualified for this.
In the video: “The First” – The BR24Sport story about homosexuality in professional football
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio February 27, 2024 – 3:54 p.m
