Although investors’ entry into the German Football League (DFL) is off the table until further notice, there was another interruption of play in the Bundesliga on Sunday afternoon. This time, the fans of Eintracht Frankfurt did not protest against investor entry into the DFL as such, but rather against investor-run clubs in the Bundesliga such as VfL Wolfsburg, which was the SGE’s opponent on Sunday. Former world champion Sami Khedira assessed this protest in his own words.
Khedira clearly criticized the fact that the organized fan scene in Frankfurt again caused a six-minute interruption on matchday 23.
“Nowadays you always have to be careful how you communicate something and who communicates it,” said the 36-year-old at the “DAZN” microphone, initially cautiously.
But then he became clear: “We can also start protesting against players who may have played for a club that isn’t quite as rich in tradition. Or sponsors who may not be quite as pure. Then at some point we won’t have the Bundesliga anymore. Then “We can really go to the football field again and enjoy football with a bratwurst and a beer,” said the former midfielder, who himself played in the Bundesliga for VfB Stuttgart and Hertha BSC.
“The fans have a strong voice and that’s a good thing. […] But the fans also have to accept a certain red line,” said Khedira, adding that it is now enough with the game interruptions in the German upper house of football.
Bouncy balls and tennis balls fly onto the court
For Khedira, it is clear that the Bundesliga cannot close itself off to new sources of income in the long term in order not to fall behind in European comparison: “The Bundesliga product must be nourished. People always talk about competitiveness. The Bundesliga brand is weakening more and more. I “I’m not talking about the Premier League, I’m talking about Serie A, about LaLiga. You also have to pay attention to what’s happening behind us, with France, with Portugal or Holland,” warned the long-time international.
Tennis balls and bouncy balls flew out of the Eintracht curve onto the lawn on Sunday afternoon, and a small plastic pig also landed on the pitch. However, Frankfurt fans had not previously taken part in the protests against the now discontinued DFL investor plans.