With a ten-point catalog of measures, SK Rapid is tackling homophobia and sexism in the club. In response to the offensive and homophobic comments made by officials and players after the derby win against Austria, the Hütteldorfers want to create lasting cultural change and serve as a driving force in the fight against discrimination throughout Austrian sport.
“The events of the weekend before last are a very special challenge for us,” said Rapid President Alexander Wrabetz. During the victory celebrations, “something went seriously wrong where we said we have to accept this challenge, take responsibility and learn from it.” The club was exposed to great pressure from the public, from Sports Minister Werner Kogler and also from sponsors and immediately after the videos appeared, it started a process that resulted in the catalog of measures presented on Tuesday.
WU Rector leading the development
The process is led by Vice President Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger. The rector of the Vienna University of Economics and Business has broken off a professional stay in Greece in order to initiate the measures. “The SK Rapid has a mission statement in which it explicitly commits to diversity, advocates for an open society and, of course, opposes anti-discrimination. The fact that these videos appeared after the last derby celebration shows to me that unfortunately it is not the case that this guiding principle is anchored in such a way that our Rapid community has this guiding principle present in an exceptional emotional situation. We have to create processes and structures to ban discrimination and homophobia from the club,” explained Hanappi-Egger.
Managing director Steffen Hofmann, assistant coach Stefan Kulovits and the players Guido Burgstaller, Marco Grüll, Thorsten Schick, Maximilian Hofmann and Niklas Hedl, who were seen and heard in the videos, were suspended on Monday by the Bundesliga’s criminal senate condemned to unconditional bans. Those affected have shown understanding and apologized, which is why no further sanctions are being considered within the club. However, the seven men are at the center of the measures; among other things, they will support organizations against discrimination.
Rapid will also work with relevant institutions, tighten up personal responsibility in employment contracts, introduce the position of a diversity officer, offer a prize for the best fan initiative against discrimination and carry out a study on how to deal with homophobia in the stadium of a congress should lead to a scientific discourse and strategies for implementation. Fan groups and sponsors should be involved in this self-reflection. “A process of reflection has been initiated in the fan scene, so we notice that there are of course already internal discussions, which are very encouraging,” said Hanappi-Egger.
COMMENT: Rapid’s protest against the Senate verdict is the next scandal
The club wants to become a role model in the Austrian sports landscape. “I am very hopeful that Rapid as a club can make a difference in football and in sport as a whole with the charisma that we have,” explained Hanappi-Egger. Rapid “can be an important node in a powerful network,” is their vision. “I believe that now is the best time to develop something sustainably here. “That we develop an understanding to stop using these insults, that it does not detract from the atmosphere of a football experience if we use other words to express our emotions and that they do not have to be inhumane and degrading,” emphasized the Rapid Vice President.
Rapid still wants to protest against the “very harsh judgments” in the case of its players. Because protest does not mean a reprieve from punishment, the kickers will definitely be missing from the playoff for the championship group on Sunday in Klagenfurt.
2024-03-05 20:57:02
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