Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – In the ongoing dispute about hosting evening games in its new arena, SC Freiburg has suffered another setback. According to a decision by the Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court (VGH), the SC is temporarily not allowed to host any Bundesliga games there from 8 p.m., as stated in a statement on Tuesday. Bundesliga games are also prohibited on Sundays between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. following complaints from residents. The club reacted with incomprehension to the decision. “An incomprehensible decision that was not to be expected”, said board member Oliver Leki.
However, since the main proceedings in the month-long dispute are being negotiated before the administrative court, the SC still believes in a solution. “I am confident that our legal opinion will be confirmed in the further proceedings,” said Leki.
The regional council of Freiburg was also “surprised” by the VGH decision, but is also expecting a clarification. “We are still confident that our arguments in the main proceedings at the Freiburg Administrative Court will be convincing and that the legal issue will be clarified in our favor by the highest court if necessary,” the RP announcement said.
It is currently not yet clear when the sports club will play its first game in the new stadium near the airfield. Initially, the team of coach Christian Streich will continue to play in the Black Forest Stadium. The move will probably only take place in the second half of the season.
The most recent VGH decision is the next step in a dispute that at the beginning may seem bizarre. The VGH had already issued a corresponding ban last October – shortly afterwards, however, it turned out that it had judged on the basis of outdated noise protection values. The court then entered the substantive examination again and came to a similar conclusion. Bundesliga games on Friday or Monday evening would therefore be excluded.
What is new, on the other hand, is that DFB Cup games also take place in the evening and may also extend into the night (from 10 p.m.). Also European Cup games would be allowed to the Freiburg not qualified for the international competition during these times. In contrast, there will be no late Bundesliga games for the time being – because these were “probably wrongly classified as rare events within the meaning of the sports facility noise protection ordinance,” it said.
The RP, on the other hand, assumes that Bundesliga matches could take place at least until 10 p.m., because the noise could probably be kept within the permissible limits until then. An end to the dispute is not yet in sight.
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