Gregor Gysi: "Football without fans is only half the football"

Gregor Gysi in an interview about commerce in sports, ghost games in the Bundesliga and social responsibility of footballers.

Munich - Gregor Gysi, 72, developed the connection to football early on. The left's foreign policy spokesman grew up in Berlin-Johannisthal, near the An der Alten Försterei stadium - home of Union Berlin. In an interview with our newspaper, Gysi tells what he thinks about the continuation of the Bundesliga season, why football players should take on more responsibility and what bothers him about the Olympic Games.

Mr. Gysi, you are a fan of Union Berlin. Did you follow the game against Bayern Munich last weekend?

Of course I couldn't go to the stadium either. I hate privileges when they affect others and not me (laughs). But seriously: I had the game recorded and so far I've only heard reports of it. But I would be happy to tell you about a stadium experience that I remember.

With pleasure.

I saw the Unioners play in the Allianz Arena in Munich in the first half of the season. What struck me immediately: Union fans were much louder than Munich fans. It felt like we were still in the old forester's house. But both Bayern fans and Berliners got along wonderfully and exchanged scarves, which impressed me.

Despite the loud support, you could not travel back to the capital with a win. FC Bayern won the game 2-1.

I was sitting behind Uli Hoeneß during the game. He was able to get up to cheer twice and I only once, which of course annoyed me.

What is your relationship with Uli Hoeneß like?

We get on well since we met. At the beginning he certainly had reservations about me. I don't care about people when they're upstairs. I spoke to Hoeneß when less and less spoke to him: when the criminal proceedings against him were going on. It was such a prominent status for Hoeneß, he is sometimes perceived as a demigod, certainly an extremely difficult time. I dedicate myself to people in such phases. That is the lawyer in me.

The big football topic these days is the restart of the Bundesliga. What is your opinion on the debate?

In principle, I don't mind if solutions are found. But it is clear that the ghost games are scary. Football without fans is only half of football. You also have to be careful that other sports are not too disadvantaged. Otherwise it says: Football is rich, so it can do almost anything.

Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich have set a good example. With the “WeKickCorona” initiative, they have collected millions in donations for charitable purposes. Do footballers have to show more commitment in public so that the image of a millionaire who drives a Porsche does not solidify?

It is logical that many football professionals go crazy at a young age when they suddenly start earning so much money. You don't have my maturity yet (laughs). However, they must also be aware that they have a high social reach. They have to be socially involved and you should also realize that their hearts are a bit attached to them and they don't necessarily do it.

Salomon Kalou's video is the latest example that footballers may not always be as aware of their social reach.

Many players do not know what they can do with certain statements and what the scope of such a video is. It is not enough if a footballer plays well, he also has to take responsibility outside of the field. The club officials are asked to convey such values ​​to their players. In this regard, Uli Hoeneß is good: Social responsibility is always a top priority for him.

Recently, the word humility has often been used in connection with football. Transfers in the three-digit million range, absurdly high salaries lead many fans to the opinion that football falls ill with their own system.

Commercialization in football can no longer be stopped, there is no need to have any illusions. What really bothers me is that some clubs belong to some prince. This creates adventurous structures and the fans have no influence whatsoever. But football is by no means the only example in which commercialization bothers me.

Where do you still mind commercialization?

It would be so important for the Olympia to be decentralized. The Olympic Games were once such a beautiful festival with an enormous appeal of the competitions. I would probably never go archery. At Olympia, however, I watch archery with enthusiasm.

What exactly do you dislike?

Competitions and sports are no longer in focus. It's all about advertising and who builds the most chic and expensive stadiums. It rarely has anything to do with the Olympic idea. I remember Bob Beamon's jump at the 1968 Olympics. It felt like it couldn't come down at all. Or the basketball final at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich: the Soviet Union wins in the only and last second second with a point advantage over the USA. That was amazing. I'm telling you this because it was such great moments when the sport was still in the foreground.

Sport was present in your life early on. You grew up not far from the An der Alten Försterei stadium.

Exactly, I grew up in Berlin-Johannisthal, near the stadium. By the way, Union Berlin may never change stadiums. The Alte Försterei and Union Berlin - this is a perfect marriage. And the fans are world class anyway, they would still shout their team forward in the 9th league.

You seem pretty enthusiastic about the fans.

At the moment you can see how important the fans are for football. You just have to talk to the fans more. Talk to them and not talk about them. It cannot be that some games require 1000 policemen to prevent battles. You have to start early and ask yourself where the aggressions among the fans come from. Then they should go for a round of boxes in the afternoon and let the energy out. There is a decisive advantage in ice hockey.

Namely?

In ice hockey the players hit the ice, which has a calming effect on the spectators. At least that's what a psychologist told me. But I also don't like it when the thoroughbred football fan is always portrayed as aggressive. I told you about how the fans of Union Berlin and FC Bayern treated each other. Despite all the rivalries, the focus was on enjoying sports.

What about your own sporting experience?

At school I was always in goal when I was playing football because I was too lazy to run all the time. Because of my brevity, it was of course difficult to get to the bar (laughs). I also did judo for years. At the moment I like swimming and cycling. But I mostly cheat a little and take an e-bike. And once a year I go skiing in Austria. In the meantime, I also like to go hiking, which I used to find boring.

Mr. Gysi, a final question: what is more nerve-wracking, an exciting game in the old forester's house or a hard debate in the Bundestag?

A game in the old forester, of course. I love to be in the stadium and would like to go there more often. In a debate in the Bundestag, my job is often not to fall asleep (laughs).

Interview: Nico-Marius Schmitz