Bundesliga soccer club FSV Mainz 05 has won the test match against English first division club Newcastle United, which was heavily disputed among its own fans.
Coach Bo Svensson’s team won 1-0 (0-0) in Kufstein and benefited from the winning goal from striker Delano Burgzorg, who scored in the 58th minute. The game was planned as part of the Mainz training camp in Grassau.
Mainz fans, including the Supporters fan association, had called for the friendly to be canceled due to Newcastle’s ownership structure with a Saudi Arabian consortium. Saudi Arabia has been criticized for human rights abuses.
The Mainz club chairman Stefan Hofmann called the duel with the English “a sporting showdown” and “particularly important for the preparation of the team”.
The 05ers wore a rainbow-colored captain’s armband on Monday.