Berlin (dpa) – With drastic words, fans of 1. FC Union Berlin have expressed their aversion to Supercup games in Saudi Arabia and champion playoffs in the Bundesliga.
“Playoffs? Games in Saudi Arabia? Who actually shitted Frau Hopfen in the beer?!” It said on a large banner before Sunday’s game against Borussia Dortmund (3:30 p.m. / DAZN).
Union President Dirk Zingler explained his rejection of the playoff idea before kick-off at DAZN: “I’m against it. We shouldn’t fix anything that isn’t broken. I don’t understand the discussion at all. We have a great league, we have a great one Competition. If we end up playing a playoff, then we devalue the competition. I don’t believe in it,” said Zingler.
Debate also erupted last week about introducing champion playoffs amid a lack of excitement in the title race. The new DFL boss Donata Hopfen brought up the idea and did not rule out Supercup games in Saudi Arabia. Oliver Kahn, a board member at FC Bayern Munich, was also open to the playoffs. Many other club representatives rejected it.