Dusseldorf (dpa) – When Fredi Bobic happened to be in the top third division game between 1. FC Magdeburg and 1. FC Saarbrücken on Saturday, the managing director of Hertha BSC thought it was a canned game.
“I zapped through, and suddenly I see a game and think: Is that a recording? Where are the viewers from,” said Bobic on Tuesday: “I had no idea that there were currently 15,000 viewers somewhere. “
It is these inconsistent corona rules that are currently causing some clubs to revolt against their state governments. “If every state does its own thing, it’s crazy,” says Bobic, whose club hasn’t even complained. But four other clubs have already pushed ahead.
Saxony admits more spectators
RB Leipzig’s objection is against a Corona regulation that has been outdated since Tuesday – in the newly passed decision that will apply from February 6th, more fans will be allowed into the stadium again. RB can now use the arena at 25 percent capacity for the next game on February 11 against 1. FC Köln. That would be around 11,000 instead of just 1,000 spectators as before. It was initially unclear whether the people of Leipzig would also submit an application against the 25 percent rule.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, all three Bundesliga clubs that have a home game at the weekend want the NRW regulation to be examined in an expedited procedure at the Münster Higher Regional Court. In the games on Saturday (Cologne, Bielefeld) and Sunday (Dortmund), they want to be able to let more than the 750 spectators allowed into the stadium. It remains to be seen whether they can force a decision by then. By early Tuesday afternoon, only FC’s application had been received, the other two announced for Tuesday had not yet.
Urgent applications in NRW
The court pointed out that it cannot decide on audience numbers. His only question is whether the country’s Corona Protection Ordinance will be confirmed or suspended overall when it comes to major events. It is currently unclear when the Higher Administrative Court will decide on this issue. The country will first have the opportunity to comment until Wednesday (midnight). The regulation, which has been in force since January 13, expires shortly after the 21st matchday on February 9th.
In addition, there is a statement in NRW from Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, who made it clear at the end of November after the derby between Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach, which was sold out with 50,000 spectators: “There must be no such pictures as in Cologne again. We do not want to see such pictures and we will not see no more.”
Through coach Steffen Baumgart, FC pointed out “that we did not have a confirmed case of corona after the derby against Gladbach”. BVB reported on evaluations according to which the majority of spectators came to the stadium in their own car, by bicycle or on foot for precautionary reasons at a home game with a capacity of 18 percent (15,000 tickets). This coincides with the findings of the Dortmunder Verkehrsbetriebe DSW21.
The Arminia referred to the location of the stadium in the middle of the city. As a result, there is a particularly high number of visitors who come to the game on foot or by bike. In addition, in the season so far “no infections have been detected from visiting the stadium or contact tracing has been requested by the health authorities”.
Merz for gradual relaxation
CDU leader Friedrich Merz spoke out on the TV station Welt for a gradual relaxation of the restrictions. “I think we have every reason and reason to say: ‘We can now promise easing’,” he said: “We’re slowly increasing it. You have to give people the perspective.” In any case, he “just wants to see rules that are the same for everyone, with the same standards. And not with abstract numbers.”
In Bavaria, after a cabinet decision, spectators are allowed again at professional games. The upper limit is 10,000 visitors, and the occupancy of the arenas may not exceed 25 percent. “Unfortunately, we have so far worked in vain towards such compromises in North Rhine-Westphalia,” emphasized the FC board and management. Dortmund boss Hans-Joachim Watzke explained that “one had hoped in vain to be able to come to a similarly consensual and, given the pandemic situation, a moderate solution in dialogue with the state government, as found in Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate is now made possible”. That is why the lawsuit was filed as a “last resort”.