Germany’s football is in a phase of frozen conflict.
“Germany is world famous for its stadium atmosphere. Fan culture with impressive performances, creative approach and social involvement create a unique atmosphere, ”said Reinhard Grindel, former president of the German Football Union. After the restart of the Bundesliga with empty stands, this is felt especially sharply.
To the end of the season does not turn into a dull action, the clubs get out as they can. The Gladbach Borussia, for example, will place plastic copies of fans on the seats. A fan can order their own mannequin for 19 euros – in the first week about seven thousand people used this function.
German Championship
Test: do you know Bavaria?
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Ultras is not too happy about the resumption of the championship. “For me, football is in the stadiums. I have been going to almost every Freiburg match for more than 10 years, so watching games on TV is not an option, ”said Helen Bright of Unsere Kurve. In April, the German ultras put forward a unified position: the continuation of the season will be a mockery of society, professional football should remain in quarantine.
Over the past two months of coronavirus hell, active fans in Germany have shown that they can do more than just chants and banners. Ultras helped people in every possible way from the risk zone: they delivered food and medicine, participated in volunteer projects. “Now everyone says that the image of ultras is changing. But I would not want people to mix with football what we are doing now. I’m not helping to say later that we have improved our reputation, ”said Fabian Foss, a Union fan.
Initially, the stadiums will be empty forcibly, but not the fact that the ultras will return after the pandemic. A point of no return has been reached in relations between fans and football leaders in Germany – this happened at the end of the match between Bavaria and Hoffenheim, when television commentators discussed not the power of the guys in red, but the unprecedented situation.
As a rule, if your favorite team wins by the 62nd minute with a score of 6: 0, a person with standard settings is overwhelmed with happiness and unbridled joy. After Leon Goretzky’s goal against the unfortunate Hoffe in the 24th round of the Bundesliga, Bayern fans felt the same way – with the exception of a separate group of fans with obscene banners. Young people insulted the owner of the home team Dietmar Hopp, who was present that evening at the stadium in Sinsheim.
Dietmar Hopp
Photo: SID
After receiving information about the dirty sign, the referee Christian Dinger stopped the game and unchecked Munich head coach Hansi Flick, an enraged coach whose team scored six goals, did not want to lose a well-deserved victory due to his tricks and quickly went to the stands for negotiations. David Alaba, Serge Gnabry and Yozua Kimmich helped the coach to persuade his fans, but persuasion did not last long. After 10 minutes, the referee stopped the match again and this time led the teams off the field.
Then heavy artillery was launched. Legends of the club went to communicate with the guest sector: sports director Hassan Salihamidzic and board member Oliver Kahn. Ex-Bayern players once again called on activists for adequacy, after which the players still returned to the field. The rivals spent the remainder of the match uniquely: demonstratively lazily exchanged, talking with each other and clapping in support of the offended. In fact, the final match was negotiable.
Hopp has been the target for the ultras for many years, as in Germany they hate clubs whose controlling stakes are owned by investors or corporations (hi Red Bull and Leipzig). Since 1998, there has been a rule under which an individual should not have more than 49% of the shares. But there is an exception: you can get an advantage if you invest in the club for more than 20 years. Since 1989, Hopp has been investing in Hoffenheim, for which he once played, and is considered the full owner of the team. The billionaire spent about 200 million euros on the “village” and even built a 30-thousand stadium in neighboring Sinsheim, where only 35 thousand live.
However, Hoffenheim never looked like typical money bags. The club did not make high-profile transfers, but developed thanks to competent scouting and management. From this, the 80-year-old functionary is even more offended: “If I understood at least roughly what these idiots want from me, it would be easier for me. I don’t know why they are so hostile. Why shouldn’t I now appear in the stadium? They should not come. ”
There is only one explanation for the behavior of the Bavarian fan scene. The Munich team stood up for colleagues from Dortmund, who posted similar banners at the match in December and ran into a three-year ban on visiting games in Sinsheim. Active fans of other clubs started up because a couple of years ago DFB (German Football Union) promised not to apply the practice of collective fines.
In Germany, fans have real power and leverage. To direct energy in a peaceful direction, fan projects are scattered throughout the country. These organizations do not operate under the patronage of clubs, but are funded by the DFB and city authorities. The work of such fan projects is provided by social educators who, in an informal setting, hold special meetings with growing fans and ultras. They can either just chat and grill together, or discuss important topics: racism, violence, discrimination. A useful tool to find a compromise on sensitive issues.
Dietmar Hopp after the match between Bayern and Hoffenheim
After the final whistle, the chairman of the Bavarian board, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, brought Ditmar out onto the field and shook his hand, but the ultras were unlikely to touch such a gesture and the behavior of the team as a whole. First of all, fans understand that without a crushing score no one would defiantly graze with an opponent. Secondly, activists are well aware that the Hopp company (SAP) is among the sponsors of both Bavaria and the German Football Union – and these are already financial interests.
Everything related to commerce, in principle, inspires a German fan. This trend is well seen in the attitude of active fans towards the German national team. It would seem that for the team with the flag of their native country, you don’t want it, you want to drown what urine is, but it’s not so simple. At home matches, the national team’s arenas are not filled up completely – fans don’t like that ticket prices can reach 100 euros, and all activities within the stadium are wrapped in brands like Samsung.
Add to this the disagreements of the fans with the federation within the Bundesliga, and it turns out that the German team plays in almost the same silence as in the school library in the Internet era. The Football Union understands that the games should have a special atmosphere, and get out as it can. For example, for the qualification match Germany – Belarus, DFB brought to the Borussia Park a costumed ensemble of drummers and trumpeters who tried to amuse those who came by repeating the same tunes in a circle. During the match, the modest guest sector sounded more lamp-like.
DFB is well aware and cannot just remove the active fan scene, as authenticity will be lost along with it. It’s incredibly difficult to achieve a perfect balance, where both sides are satisfied, but a compromise will have to be found. Otherwise, after defeating the coronavirus, the Bundesliga will not be the same.
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