With drums and full singing against the record master (nd current)

It was a really good week for 1. FC Union – and at the end the Berliners can expect a high point. Of course, the shocking experiences of the previous week around the game in the European Conference League at Feyenoord Rotterdam have not yet been forgotten: The violence of opposing fans, the questionable behavior of the police and the catastrophic organization on site by the city and club are still being dealt with. The annoying late Stuttgart goal to 1-1 last Sunday in the Bundesliga was followed by an important victory on Wednesday evening: With a 3-1 win at Waldhof Mannheim, Union reached the round of 16 in the DFB Cup in extra time.

The best news hit the club on Monday. After negotiations with the Berlin Senate, 1. FC Union is now allowed to use 75 percent of its stadium capacity. 16,500 spectators are expected in the Alte Försterei this Saturday – against FC Bayern Munich. Not only is the opponent special, so are the general conditions. Because in the two home games against the record champions in the Bundesliga so far, Union had to play in front of empty ranks due to corona.

Whether one finds the pioneering role of the Köpenicker Klub in matters of audience admission worthy of support in all parts of the argumentation: it is certain that he has long been working on sustainable concepts that aim to bring people back to the entire cultural scene. Even more fans could have come on Saturday if Union had applied the more restrictive 2G regulation. However, the association is against this systematic exclusion of people and thus welcomes not only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, but also those who have been tested to the Alte Försterei.

1. FC Union is supported by its active fan scene, which – like almost all nationwide – has so far boycotted attending matches. The motto: “All or none!” On Tuesday, the three major ultra-groupings “Wuhlesyndikat”, “Teen Spirit Köpenick” and “Hammer Hearts” spoke up in a joint statement. There it says: “For the upcoming home game against FC Bayern, the conditions for an organized appearance in the stadium are acceptable for us. We also want to set an example and support the association on its way to full capacity. “

So with drums and full singing it goes against the record champions. Nevertheless, the support from the ranks of the Alte Försterei remains limited. Because full capacity is not yet permitted, the active fans do without group flags and choreographies. And they demand: »Equal rights for everyone! Guest fans must also be exposed to acceptable conditions in our living room. «That means: The usual ten percent of the permitted ticket quota should be available to the Munich appendix and the data for the necessary personalization of the tickets should remain with your club.

It remains to be seen whether the game will also be a festival for Union from a sporting point of view. But even for that, the prerequisites are not the worst. On the one hand, the Berlin footballers are the best in the Bundesliga with 21 home games in a row without defeat. On the other hand, a badly battered opponent arrives: The 0: 5 on Wednesday in Mönchengladbach was Bayern’s biggest defeat in the DFB Cup. In Munich they are still looking for explanations for this.