Hertha against Union
Berlin derby in the DFB Cup probably without a spectator
Ghost games have been decided, the Olympic Stadium is likely to remain empty at the Hertha BSC derby against 1. FC Union Berlin in the DFB Cup.
Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL / dpa
The federal-state summit decides on ghost games from December 28th. The Berlin derby is also likely to be affected.
Berlin. Professional sport is becoming a closed society again, the specter of “ghost games” returns for everyone shortly after Christmas: Concerned about the highly contagious Corona variant Omikron, politicians decided on Tuesday, as expected, to completely exclude spectators at major national sporting events from December 28th.
“National major events are no longer allowed to take place with an audience, this applies in particular to football matches,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. How long this regulation, which was made at the federal-state summit, initially remained open. The first second round matches in the Bundesliga are likely to be just as affected as the DFB Cup round of 16. Hertha BSC will receive 1. FC Union there on January 19 (8.45 p.m.) in the Olympic Stadium.
The decision is massively affecting professional sport. BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke had warned the politicians in advance of a “symbolic policy” and showed no understanding for the exclusion of spectators: As an open-air event with a “proven, coherent concept”, professional football had proven to deal responsibly with the situation.
Indoor sports, which are even more dependent on viewer income than football with its billion-dollar TV contract, are hit hard by the measure. In the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), all games will take place in front of empty ranks on December 28, the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) will be affected one day later. In the DEL, the salaries are now often linked to the number of spectators, corresponding clauses should “be drawn now”, as the league manager Gernot Tripcke confirmed: “The clubs will somehow get through the season, but many are really at risk for the future.” It is “extremely important that the Coronahilfe professional sport continues to flow”, so Tripcke – and to a greater extent: “But it is not enough just to extend it.” The Handball Bundesliga (HBL) is lucky that the game is due to the European Championship is suspended until February 9th. Whether the audience will return by then is at least questionable.
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