In the debate about a change in values in football, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has criticized the demands of ultra-groups and is therefore not well understood by organized fans. The chief executive of FC Bayern Munich also criticized the naming of a new alliance on Wednesday, which countered the estimates of the 64-year-old on Wednesday. After the difficult cooperation between clubs, associations and ultras has moved into the background during the ghost game period, the discussion after the founding of “Our Football” and the open question of the return of fans to the Bundesliga stadiums is picking up speed again.
“Unfortunately we have now reached a point where I only read from the Ultras: we demand this, we demand that. Now they wanted to have a say in the debate about the distribution of TV money,” said Rummenigge of “Sport Bild “. “But if I always just challenge, but I’m never ready to take on duties and responsibilities, it ends in a one-way street.”
Numerous fan scenes had come together to form the “Our Football” alliance, which it claims to be supported by around 400,000 fans. They are calling on the German Football League and the German Football Association to initiate concrete reforms and for clubs and associations to act before the season starts.
Rummenigge’s criticism rejected the organization. “Football fans give a lot – especially time and passion, everything that makes football more than just a sport,” said spokesman Jan-Henrik Gruszecki. “If you do that, you can always draw attention to things.”
Rummenigge criticized the name of the new alliance, which it claims to support more than 2,300 fan clubs and groups and over 12,000 individuals. “I think the name is a bit presumptuous,” said Rummenigge about “Our Football”. “Who owns football? Most likely those who play it – no matter what level. The fans are part of football, but it doesn’t belong to them. “
The statement shows “that Karl-Heinz Rummenigge didn’t understand anything,” countered Gruszecki. “The fan clubs who signed up say that is how we would define our football,” he said. “We don’t say” we own football “. If someone says, “We have to save our planet”, it does not imply that the planet itself belongs to them. “
The different perspectives on the billion dollar business and different values have always created a difficult relationship between clubs and some fan groups. An inglorious highlight was hostility to Hoffenheim patron Dietmar Hopp, who speaks in the interview with Rummenigge. In February this almost caused a game break in the league game of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim against FC Bayern (0: 6).
In challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic and games without spectators, the topic then took a back seat. The desire for changes expressed by fans and, as a result of the difficult Corona period, also increasingly from professional football, was very well received. The extent and implementation will still provide plenty of material for discussion.
The opinion of fans should be taken more seriously in the future, DFB President Fritz Keller recommended in mid-May. “It is certainly late now, but not too late to listen to her warning words. We are aware that we have sometimes overlooked your criticism of the commercialization of football – because the system worked so well. ”
A week ago, the fan cultures group came together for an extraordinary meeting. DFL boss Christian Seifert once again assured that a wide range of actors – including fan representatives – will be involved in the “Task Force Future Professional Football” planned for September with a view to possible changes in German football.
“The DFB and DFL are responsible for this. However, no demands should be made beforehand by any party, ”said Rummenigge, who denounced“ selfishness in dealing with ultras ”in the league. “Every club just watches that it keeps its stable clean and has no stress.” All sides agree that they finally want to experience football games in front of fans again. But with possible conditions for the how it starts again. Because not everyone likes personalized tickets that would be offered in times of Corona.
Organized supporters fear that the crisis could be used to permanently introduce such tickets. Hopp, which is unpopular with Ultras, is a supporter of such tickets. “We have to protect our police officers, ensure that people are not injured by pyro and personalize the tickets,” said the 80-year-old entrepreneur.
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