First club of many?
FC Wettingen voluntarily descends into the 2nd division due to the corona crisis. Are the Aargau people the first of many to take this step?
The team of coach Marc Hodel will only play in the 2nd league regionally next season because of Corona.
–Andy Müller / Freshfocus
–
–FC Wettingen has announced its voluntary relegation due to the financial hardships of the corona.
–Andy Müller / Freshfocus
–
–Football fans will say something about FC Wettingen: In 1989 the Aaragauer played in the Uefa Cup against Napoli and Diego Maradona.
–Keystone
–
–The hype was huge at the time – especially because of football artist Maradona.
–Keystone
–
–Wettingen narrowly lost to the Italian miracle team, the soccer dwarf eliminated 1: 2 after the return leg.
–Keystone
—-
The club has had an impressive season. So far, Wettingen has only lost once in the 2nd Interregional League and is only one point behind in second place in the table. And yet the Aargau team, who played against the Napoli wonder troop and Diego Maradona in the Uefa Cup in the 1980s, are now relegated. Voluntary. Because of Corona.
–
Instead of continuing to flirt with the promotion to the 1st league, the fourth highest division in Switzerland, the new reality will be called regional from the fall of the 2nd league.
–
“The voluntary relegation was not a gut decision,” said club president Pierluigi Ghitti to the “Aargauer Zeitung”. “Coach Marc Hodel and I thought it over for a long time.” But finally the difficult financial situation due to Corona led to the final decision.
–
Corona lost
The question that many amateur footballers or soccer fans are asking themselves: Can the same thing happen in their own club? The financial reasons that led to Wettingen’s voluntary relegation could indicate this. A three-day school tournament that was scheduled for June and would have brought in CHF 20,000 had to be canceled.
–
In addition, a tenant of the domestic stadium gets out in the summer, which results in a loss of CHF 30,000. At the same time, three sponsors are about to stop supporting the club next season, or at least reduce their contributions, also for economic reasons.
–
“I hope Wettingen will remain an isolated case.”
–
Tournament cancellation, tenant departure, loss of sponsors – all scenarios that could also affect other clubs. But Heinz Rähmi, Vice President of the Amateur League, can reassure himself: “So far, FC Wettingen is a special case in amateur football.” No other association in Switzerland had received similar signals that they wanted to relegate voluntarily.
–
Of course, it always depends on the individual club. And especially if planned tournaments are canceled, it could put a strain on the till. Rähmi would expect more from sponsors. «Especially in this difficult time you should support your club. I really hope Wettingen will remain an isolated case. »
–
Wettingen players fight back
Further voluntary descents would definitely cause a stir. Like in Wettingen. A few days after the announcement, the players sent an open letter to the management. According to the “AZ”, they cannot understand the decision with the drastic sporting consequences and are of the opinion that a mutually satisfactory solution could have been found in joint discussions with the Presidium, the Executive Board and the team.
–
The hope for it is only small. The paper with the voluntary relegation is already with the Amateur League and the Aargau Football Association.
—
