Spectators still have to wait to be able to visit the German football stadiums in larger numbers again. Dortmund’s Hans-Joachim Watzke reacted with clear words.
Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke from the Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has criticized the refusal of the federal and state governments to open the football stadiums to spectators in clear words and is even considering legal action. “We will take a close look at the decisions of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and check whether we can have them checked in an urgent procedure,” said the head of BVB on Monday of the German Press Agency.
It was “bitter that after two years the majority of MPK participants only think of bans and not of a minimum of possibilities and logical decisions,” explained Watzke: “Almost three quarters of Germans have been vaccinated. There have been sufficient vaccination offers for months for every single citizen in this country. In the meantime, we also know a lot more about Omikron. Nevertheless, we sometimes allow almost 90 percent of the capacity indoors and only 750 people in open-air stadiums. People are locked out in the open air. That’s not proportionate, that It’s not science either, no one understands that anymore.”
There are always complaints that football gets special rights in Germany. “The opposite is the case. Football is falling victim to symbolic politics,” said Watzke. The federal and state governments had ruled out the easing of corona requirements on Monday in view of the increasing infections. This means that the professional leagues in football, handball, basketball or ice hockey are largely ghost games. In North Rhine-Westphalia, 750 spectators were last allowed.
Kahn hopes for the end of the ghost games
Bayern boss Oliver Kahn from FC Bayern Munich is now hoping for an end to the ghost games after signals from Prime Minister Markus Söder. At the federal-state summit, Söder announced that he “wanted to make adjustments to the corona measures. I expressly welcome that,” said the Bavarian CEO on Monday evening of the German Press Agency. “We have to find sensible solutions for all areas of life, including sport. I very much hope that the Bavarian cabinet will discuss possibilities and opportunities at its meeting on Tuesday – and make the appropriate decisions.”
After the Corona consultations by the federal and state governments, Söder renewed his commitment to easing sporting and cultural events in Bavaria. More viewers will be allowed in both areas, said Söder on Monday evening on BR television – each under 2G plus conditions and with a mask requirement. The cabinet wants to decide on the details this Tuesday. Söder left it open whether and for which professional leagues this should apply.
In Bavaria, the Bundesliga teams have been playing in front of empty ranks again since the beginning of December. The federal and state governments had decided not to open the football stadiums to spectators during the consultations.