After the 3-0 win in the Vienna derby against Austria on February 25th, Grüll and other Rapid players chanted homophobic and other denigrating chants with fans that were directed against the Violets. Cell phone videos of this quickly made the rounds. The Bundesliga Criminal Senate initially banned Grüll for six competitive games, three of which were unconditional, for discrimination. After an appeal, the number of games was reduced by one.
The offensive player, who will move to Werder Bremen in the summer, publicly apologized for his behavior and received support from his club, but his image was already damaged. In Germany, the reports about the Rapid bullies caused a huge response.
Grüll show in Hartberg
On his return after a two-game ban, Marco Grüll shone as a match winner for Rapid. The offensive player scored all three goals in the 3-0 win at TSV Hartberg in the championship group of the Admiral Bundesliga.
Headwind from Bremen and Rangnick
The Werder fans, for whom anti-discrimination and an open fan culture are extremely important, turned up their noses at the upcoming newcomer. Those responsible at the club quoted Grüll for a conversation about which nothing was made public. What is certain is that the Austrian has to do some convincing in the new environment.
ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick reacted by not calling up any of the affected Rapid players for the March international matches against Slovakia and Turkey. When the squad was announced, the German also assured that the door was not finally closed. This would be particularly important for Grüll with regard to the European Championship squad, especially since the top-class options in attack are not particularly obvious and several candidates such as Andreas Weimann, Maximilian Entrup, Manprit Sarkaria and Junior Adamu are fighting for places. Grüll recently had to watch idly as Weimann and Entrup scored as a team.
Premiere at the comeback
The suspensions of Grüll, Guido Burgstaller and others were also a turning point for the Rapid team. Afterwards there was no win for three games. Until Easter Sunday, when Grüll scored three goals in Hartberg for the first time in his professional career. “This is really a first. It was the first time I scored three goals,” he said. “Of course I’m happy that I’m coming back after the ban.” Grüll kept the fight for the better European Cup places exciting. As fourth in the table, Rapid is one point behind third-placed LASK.
From the outside, the game wasn’t a great football treat, “but in the end the result counted and it worked,” said the new top scorer. “If we win 3-0 in Hartberg, we don’t have to start looking for the fly in the ointment,” said coach Robert Klauß, who had called up Grüll as the nominal solo leader in Burgstaller’s absence. “We knew he could play that,” said the German.
“I’m extremely happy for him that he was able to help us so directly after the time when he wasn’t on the pitch and also rewarded himself,” said Klauß. The coach hopes that Grüll can maintain his form. The ÖFB Cup semi-finals at DSV Leoben are already on Wednesday, and on Sunday the Hütteldorfers have to face league leaders Red Bull Salzburg. In any case, Grüll has plenty of opportunities to advertise on his own behalf in the very intense April.
