Bayer Leverkusen wants to play Cologne on Fridays instead of Sundays to have more regeneration time for the Europa League. For the fans, the short-term change is annoying.
According to information from the sports show, Bayer Leverkusen urged the DFL to postpone the game. Background: Leverkusen play AS Roma in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League at AS Roma on May 11th, bringing the game against Cologne forward from May 7th to May 5th would allow the team more regeneration.
Leverkusen: Participation in semi-finals has been fixed since April 20th
In principle, the German Football League (DFL) schedules the games. On March 22, the DFL announced that the game between Leverkusen and Cologne will take place on Sunday, May 7, at 3:30 p.m. At this point, Leverkusen had qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League. On 20 April, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Union Saint-Gilloise in the second leg to advance to the Europa League semi-finals against AS Roma.
Only eight days later and only seven days before the game against Cologne is the transfer. There are reasons for the delay: The transfer requires approval from the DFL and also a commitment from the authorities so that the police can prepare the game. Catering and security staff must also be available.
A paragraph gives the DFL all options
The rules of the game of the DFL stipulate that clubs in the Bundesliga must apply for a desired transfer five weeks before the game, but Leverkusen was unable to meet this deadline. But another paragraph makes everything possible: “DFL eV can change dates at short notice for overriding or compelling legal, organizational and/or safety reasons.”
A “overriding interest” could therefore exist for the DFL insofar as the Bundesliga benefits from Leverkusen progressing in the Europa League. 1. FC Köln has no say in the matter, according to information from the sports show, Leverkusen’s club management informed him of the request by telephone.
Fan alliance: “Wish us long-term planning”
For fans, the transfer is a nuisance. Many may have planned their arrival and private appointments for the weekend, now there is rarely a short-term transfer. “Basically, we are in favor of games being scheduled as far in advance as possible. And that has at least gotten a little better recently.”says Thomas Kessen from the fan alliance “Unsere KURK” in an interview with the sports show.
“The shorter the lead time, the more expensive the journey often becomes, especially for away fans.” In the current case, the short distance is the best way to be lenient, said Kessen. There are only 30 kilometers between the two stadiums in Leverkusen and Cologne.
What about the other games?
But the ability to plan other games could also be affected. Moving the game in Leverkusen to Friday may have consequences for the rest of the schedule. It is not yet known whether the game between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Schalke 04 will remain a Friday game.
Swapping the positions in the schedule would upset the travel plans of Schalke fans. At least there is no disadvantage for the broadcasting TV station: DAZN broadcasts Bundesliga games live on both Fridays and Sundays.
Leverkusen gets what Cologne didn’t get in the first half of the season
1. FC Köln had already tried to postpone a game this season – but in vain. When the game in the Europa Conference League in the Czech Republic at 1. FC Slovacko was interrupted due to fog and could not be played until Friday, FC didn’t want to play Hoffenheim on Sunday.
However, since there were more than 48 hours between the rest of the game in the Czech Republic (continued from 1 p.m.) and the game on Sunday (kick-off 7.30 p.m.), the required regeneration according to the rules of the DFL was sufficient and Cologne’s request was rejected.
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart reacted with incomprehension at the time: “Very clever people have decided that 48 hours is enough for recovery. We’re in a business. It’s no longer about the player or the person.” The game against Hoffenheim ended 1:1.