Just 22 days after the fundamental decision of the BFV, two women played a league game in the men’s class for the first time.
Historic premiere in the Upper Palatinate: Only 22 days after the fundamental decision of the Bavarian Football Association (BFV), two women played in the B-Class Cham/Schwandorf 2 for the first time in a men’s league game.
Less than a month after the fundamental decision at the 26th Ordinary Association Day of the Bavarian Football Association that from now on women can also play in men’s points games upon application, FC OVI-Teunz II took advantage of this option and ensured a historic day in amateur football. With Jessica Eckl (38) and Sandra Pfannenstein (28), the club from the Upper Palatinate used two women in the men’s game for the first time. The B-Class Cham/Schwandorf 2 was the scene of the Germany-wide novelty. The 1:6 defeat against SC Altfalter II was almost irrelevant.
Both women will soon be playing in the women’s district league
The two defenders from FC OVI-Teunz from Oberviechtacher Land in the district of Schwandorf will start in September for the sovereign champions of the women’s district league north in the district league – then the season will start away at 1. FC Schwarzenfeld. But the duo has already started to hunt for competitive game points – for the B-class men of their home club.
Application approved within two days
The club found out about the possibility of women playing for the men and reacted quickly. Within 48 hours, the Association Women and Girls Committee (VFMA) with its chairwoman Sandra Hofmann approved the application of the Upper Palatinate duo and paved the way.
For the mother of two Jessica Eckl, who works as an IT specialist, the day was extremely important not only because of the premiere, because she led the B-Classist out onto the field as captain and: “I’ve now had the opportunity to work with my two brothers in a Playing a competitive game – and that on the 65th birthday of my father, who is vice chairman and stadium announcer.” In addition, she said, the number of staff in the second team was a bit thin, “so we were able to help a little and contribute to relaxation”.
Pfannenstein: “These days it’s just fitting!”
Both women were enthusiastic after the game: “I still can’t believe that I was part of such a premiere with this scope – it was a really great thing that I really enjoyed,” Jessica concluded Eckl after the game. Sandra Pfannenstein, meanwhile, saw the big picture: “It is absolutely remarkable that the Bavarian Football Association has created this new opportunity. That is just fitting in today’s world. I can only recommend everyone to try it out for themselves. On the field it was the same as always – there were no differences in dealing with each other. That’s how football is fun!”
Technically no difference recognizable
For teammate Sigi Eckl, “there was no discernible difference in terms of play either, the two girls are technically good kickers. And at the latest when the whistle kicks off, you don’t even think about whether you’re playing for a man or a woman – in the end we’re just playing football.”
Germany premiere in the district of Schwandorf
Sandra Hofmann, VFMA chairwoman in Bavaria and member of the women’s and girls’ committee at the German Football Association (DFB), sees this fundamental decision as positive: “It’s important to us that we don’t want to lose a single woman just because she doesn’t have the opportunity playing on a women’s team, which aren’t as widely represented as men’s teams.”
A total of 6,245 men’s and 796 women’s teams were registered in Bavaria as of the most recent survey date in October 2021. In the past, Hofmann has repeatedly received inquiries as to why a girl who has played with the boys from an early age shouldn’t continue to play with the A youth team. “We don’t have an A-Junior game in the female area, we wanted to consciously strengthen the women’s teams. But we have followed the path of exactly these requesting players, very few of them appear in women’s teams, a lot of them stop playing football completely on.”
The process is closely monitored
Monitoring and tracking is now the task of the committee chaired by Neumarkterin: “It’s an attempt, we see the procedure as a kind of pilot project. We will closely monitor this process by not just creating the opportunity, but the right to play through one Approve a simple and uncomplicated application. We want to know factually in which clubs, regions and age groups this option is drawn.”
VFMA Chairman Hofmann: “An option, not a must”
While this action by the BFV is unique in Germany, it was introduced in the Netherlands a year ago and dubbed a “revolution” that was long overdue because it was up-to-date. Meanwhile, in the Free State, there is a lot of discussion about what Hofmann thinks is good and important, but he immediately emphasizes “that we will not be dealing with a mass phenomenon here. It is an option, of course it is not a must. The club and the players have to do it themselves rate and can decide for themselves. And of course we also have to wait and see how many players end up having fun and enjoying it. The anatomy of men and women is and will always be different”.
Sandra Pfannenstein also knows that after the game: “Yes, of course, physically these differences cannot be explained away. The difference is particularly noticeable in terms of speed, that was really challenging – I’m correspondingly floored now. But it’s fun in any case did.”
Source: BR24Sport 07/17/2022 – 6:15 p.m
