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High time (daily newspaper Junge Welt)

Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS

The end of the year is always the time to look back. What was good, what was not so good, and how should it be in the new year? According to a study by the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and the University of Würzburg, fans are becoming increasingly alienated from big football. For two thirds of the fans surveyed, the reason for this is the pandemic. But more than half also cited increasing commercialization as a reason. Is that a surprise? In times when clubs and associations were singing the great song of humility, but only the disdainful Mammon was really important, every fan has noticed that great football also works without him. And this big football has to be careful that it is not played in front of half-empty ranks even after the pandemic. Many a fan has found that they can spend their free time well on the weekend even without football. The Corona fan has gotten older in almost two years and may prefer to go to the zoo with the offspring or meet friends for a barbecue.

In the new year, the clubs and associations definitely need to act. It’s time to take the fans seriously. Clubs and associations have to understand that they are not what make the fan culture. Certainly, it is currently not possible for them to let more fans into the stadium. But you could set a few signs. For example, stadium bans could be lifted or an agreement could be reached to abolish the stadium ban directive. One could also counter the recurring idea of ​​introducing personalized tickets in the post-pandemic period, which domestic politicians love to rant about.

These are all things that a club or the DFB could tackle now, if you only wanted to. In this sense, dear clubs and associations: Don’t complain, do it.

“Sport free!” By the fan lawyer.

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