RB Leipzig thought of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz before the Champions League game against Real Madrid with thunderous applause.
In a minute of remembrance, the services of the deceased Austrian to the club were honored in the sold-out Red Bull Arena with 45,228 spectators. That’s how you made it “from a crazy idea” to the premier class, as the stadium announcer said. A moment later there was great applause. The picture of a smiling Mateschitz was shown on the scoreboards.
The club deliberately refrained from a minute’s silence and a black ribbon. “That’s something Mr. Mateschitz wouldn’t have wanted. That’s why we don’t do it. We show a picture and will applaud great in the stadium and send him greetings upstairs,” said RB CEO Oliver Mintzlaff at “DAZN” shortly before said. “It affected us all, including me personally,” said Mintzlaff: “Without Mr. Mateschitz we would not be standing here today.”
The Austrian beverage billionaire died on October 22 at the age of 78. In addition to RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg, his sports empire also includes the ice hockey club Red Bull Munich and the Formula 1 teams Red Bull and Alpha Tauri.