Frankfurt / Munich (dpa) – The time of the unpopular ghost games in the Bundesliga and the other major professional leagues is over for the time being.
The countries agreed on Tuesday in a video link on nationwide fans to return to the football stadiums and sports halls. “The Bundesliga soccer team, but also the clubs and associations of other sports, can be very happy,” said Borussia Dortmund’s managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, commenting on the decision. “We definitely have this feeling at BVB.”
DFB President Fritz Keller was also “very happy” and was “very grateful”. The fact that all federal states have agreed is a good sign. “You can start with 20 percent,” said the head of the German Football Association.
In a six-week test phase, a maximum utilization of 20 percent of the respective stadium or hall capacity is initially permitted. The situation is to be reassessed at the end of October. “It should be a kind of experiment, a trial start,” announced Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). In addition to football, the regulation also applies to the other major team sports handball, basketball, volleyball and ice hockey, which will also resume playing in the coming weeks.
“Key to success and acceptance of the rules are coherent hygiene concepts that have to be implemented consistently. The clubs and associations are now responsible, ”said Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann. The Green politician welcomed the unified solution for which he had campaigned.
Bremen’s Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) was also pleased with the end of the patchwork: “Different regulations in Bremen or Hamburg, in Dortmund or Munich – nobody would have understood.” Shortly after the agreement, however, Schleswig-Holstein announced that it would stick to its permitted quota of 25 percent. In the northernmost state, however, there is no first division soccer club.
The partial admission of viewers decided by the heads of the state chancelleries gives professional sport as a whole better economic prospects in dealing with the Corona crisis. The relief is correspondingly great. The fan representation “Our curve” also welcomed the agreement. «Spectators are relevant to sports. We saw that at the ghost games, ”said board member Jost Peter.
Nothing stands in the way of an atmospheric season opener in the Bundesliga this weekend. However, it is unclear whether all clubs can still implement the approval due to the short term. Record champion Bayern Munich opened the 2020/21 season against FC Schalke 04 on Friday evening.
After all, four clubs had already received the green light from the responsible health authorities to start the season in front of spectators. For the games Werder Bremen against Hertha BSC and RB Leipzig against FSV Mainz 05 each 8,500 visitors were admitted – in both cases this corresponds to around 20 percent of the stadium’s capacity. Eintracht Frankfurt can be supported by 6500 fans against newcomer Arminia Bielefeld, 1. FC Union Berlin received the clearance for 5000 people in the stadium at the Alte Försterei for the game against FC Augsburg.
Leverkusen’s managing director Fernando Carro is looking forward to the long-missed atmosphere in the stands. “The 300 spectators at the last cup game have noticeably improved the atmosphere in the BayArena. Now we can plan for the first home game against Leipzig with around 6000 fans. We are prepared – and very happy about it, ”he said.
So far, a nationwide regulation for fans returning to the stadiums was only expected in the course of October. After their switch, the prime ministers of the federal states had set up a working group with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) to reach an agreement. However, the pressure to act together had increased in recent weeks due to the different resolutions of the local health authorities.
These continue to have the final say in the partial admission of viewers. The current regional pandemic must always be taken into account. The figures from the Robert Koch Institute are decisive. If the seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants at the venue is greater than or equal to 35 and the infection rate cannot be clearly delimited, the fans will usually not be released.
The German Football League decided last Friday that standing places in the stadiums may be occupied in exceptional cases on the first six match days of the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga games if the number of seats is below the approved number of spectators.
According to Söder, one now has to observe for a few weeks whether the uniform regulation works in practice. “And then we’ll see whether we stick to it or not.” One thing is clear: you need to wear a mask at least up to the place, you need a distance and hygiene measures. And access to the stadiums must also be properly regulated. “I’ll tell you quite frankly, I could have easily endured another six months without a spectator,” emphasized Söder. But he feels “the deep desire of many people for it”. That is why you have to find a sensible balance between wishes and security interests.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200915-99-575042 / 7
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