The Saxons win their first big title, but have to do without big congratulations. Lawn ball sports in Leipzig are simply not loved by Germany’s football fans – and they themselves are responsible for that.
So far there has been no big echo. And probably won’t come either. Lawn ball sport Leipzig called out to the general public, but no one answered. And lawn ball sport Leipzig is to blame for its isolation.
The first big title in the history of a club usually evokes congratulations, slaps on the back and all sorts of praise from the competition. Usually. Not with the people of Leipzig. The 13-year-old club has known for years about its image, which is not only problematic among football traditionalists. But in fact, Leipzig does little to counteract its reputation as an offshoot of an Austrian energy drink manufacturer.
The sporting – and deserved – success is acknowledged with a nod, but you have always had to do without great applause outside of your own city. The planned yield of a coolly calculated successful machine is not very attractive, let alone sympathetic. That’s a shame for great footballers like Christopher Nkunku or André Silva, but less so for the club as a whole.
Accepted yes, loved no
“Get used to it,” said the Leipzig Twitter account after the cup win – and that unintentionally hits the core: You flirt with your own reputation, and now even try to define yourself through dislike. An “us against all” mentality of a well-clocked company that is funded with millions. And it’s like this: Germany’s soccer team put up with lawn ball sports in Leipzig. Not more. Accepted yes, valued or even nationally loved no. That if Leipzig were successful in the Europa League, fans would have celebrated across clubs like at Eintracht Frankfurt? The Saxons were not even able to use up the entire ticket quota for the semi-final second leg at Glasgow Rangers.