Despite the corona pandemic
RB Leipzig wants to allow 8,500 spectators – other clubs are planning
When the fans return, the Leipzig Central Stadium will not be as full as in this picture, but RB is making a start
© Jan Woitas / DPA
For months, the football clubs had to forego spectators in the stadium for their games. The ghost games could soon be over – at least for some clubs.
From zero to 8,500: Despite the corona pandemic, several Bundesliga soccer clubs are planning the start of the season with concrete concepts in front of spectators. After the approval by the city, RB Leipzig may allow up to 8,500 spectators for the Bundesliga opener on September 20 against FSV Mainz 05. Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung expects “a piece of normality” from this. The city is aware that “the pandemic is far from over. But wherever it is possible, people – under strict conditions – must be allowed to get their everyday lives back.” There are similar considerations at other clubs for the DFB Cup.
Mainz would like to play the first round game on September 11th against TSV Havelse in front of at least a few spectators. A corresponding concept should be submitted to the authorities for approval. The club had developed a concept based on the guidelines of the German Football League “for a responsible, gradual return of fans to our games,” said CEO Stefan Hofmann of the German press agency.
Distance rules and mask requirement
The agreement with the respective health authorities is mandatory for the clubs. In Leipzig, among other things, a mask requirement for spectators and strict distance rules are the conditions. The distance is to be achieved, among other things, with a cluster formation of the fans, in which sufficient space must be left between small groups of spectators.
The tickets for the game will be raffled among season ticket holders and will not be available for free sale. If you want a ticket, you also have to be resident in Saxony. The approval of the health authority is also dependent on the infection rate in Leipzig and can be withdrawn again in the event of a negative development. RB had already submitted a hygiene concept weeks ago that had been approved by the authorities. At that time one had hoped for almost 20,000 fans, now there are 8500.
The Karlsruher SC is planning with significantly fewer fans. Around 450 spectators are expected to come to the stadium for the cup match against Union Berlin on September 12th. According to the club, 150 business guests and 300 other spectators will be among them, who will probably get the tickets. The club intends to proceed in the same way for games in the 2nd Bundesliga.
There is a risk of dispute in the Bundesliga
The presidium of the German Football Association supplemented the implementation regulations for the game rules on Monday, thus clearing the way for possible games with spectators. The decision affects the games of the DFB Cup, the 3rd division and the women’s Bundesliga. The 36 professional clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 organized in the DFL will hold a conference on Thursday. The topic harbors potential for controversy, the corona regulations of the countries are very different.
While Baden-Württemberg allows smaller sporting events with 500 spectators, since Tuesday even 5000 people have been allowed to attend outdoor events in Berlin. 1. FC Union Berlin wants to play against 1. FC Nürnberg in front of a large number of fans next Saturday. But there shouldn’t be an even bigger fan return before November. That was decided by the Prime Ministers together with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) last week.
In the cup, several amateur clubs had recently asked to swap home rights due to the corona conditions. On Tuesday, regional league team FSV Union Fürstenwalde gave their home rights to Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg. The encounter will probably take place on September 12th without spectators.
VfL Bochum, who had been asked by fifth division club FV Engers 07 to host the game in Bochum, also has no concrete plans for fans to return. The corona legal situation has so far been such that only up to 300 people are currently allowed in the stadium for test and amateur games in Bochum. These also include the teams, coaches, supervisors, organizers and journalists.
