Many clubs don't like football without spectators, but there are other opinions
Erding - The second challenges the leader. The top game of the district league was actually scheduled for this Saturday. FC Langengeisling would have received FC Lengdorf. Before that, the game of the reserve. "We lose a good thousand entrance fees," says Sepp Kaiser, Langengeisling's chairman. Apart from the money - hard to imagine that this game will take place without a spectator so that the round is played through to the end. But this scenario is possible. BFV President Rainer Koch addressed the topic of ghost games in the amateur area in a video speech on Thursday. He wanted to sound out the opinions of the clubs. In the district of Erding, opinions differ.
Bernhard Schöberl, 2nd department manager at TSV Dorfen, cannot imagine playing ghost games “because it doesn't work. Even if there are no spectators, the risk of infection among players and those responsible is very high. " And what if a player is tested positive afterwards? "Are we not going to let the two teams take part in the game and training sessions again for two weeks, then prepare again and start the whole game again?" Asks Schöberl.
Maxi Bals: Better than no football at all
For Maxi Bals, on the other hand, sporting director at the district club SC Kirchasch, it is "definitely conceivable". At least it is better than no football at all. "If that is the prerequisite for a game operation, I can imagine it."
Finsing, on the other hand, has a clear no. Chairman Dieter Heilmair: "In order to play ghost games, I first have to create the conditions to guarantee proper training." We have a sports facility that is open and accessible all round. How do we want to make it clear to the population that you shouldn't watch a football game on the promenade, but in return, the athletes are exposed to physical contact? ”
Since FC Finsing has three teams in the men's area, up to 65 athletes would romp in the cabins. The opponent is not counted yet. Heilmair: “If we don't manage to get into the normal game by May, it doesn't make sense to end the season. And getting started properly requires at least 14 days of preparation. ”
Of course, football without a spectator is only half a thing, says Klettham's department head Patrick Tischer, with health being the top priority. "I think that the way back to normal can only be done in parts." Everyone has to act responsibly. In the upper amateur area, one has to think about reducing the audience capacity. "In our classes in the district of Erding, there are certainly no problems due to the small number of spectators," Tischer continues. He personally hopes “that it will start again soon. And when the decision-makers then say 'ghost games', that's how we do it. It is definitely a first step back to normal ”.
Heilmaier: The fear would play along
His Altenerdingen colleague Andreas Heilmaier, on the other hand, cannot really imagine such games, because how is that supposed to be managed? Then who is allowed to play such a game? Who is on the staff of the two teams? Who is responsible for ensuring that there are no spectators around the field and how should it be monitored that there are only authorized persons? ”For Heilmaier, these are too many unanswered questions. “I personally think that you should only play again when all restrictions have been lifted. In the professional sector, ghost games can make sense from an economic perspective. But our area simply lacks the necessary medical care to be able to offer the necessary protection. "
After all, it is not just about the active, but also about the responsibility towards the older generation, “who has made a significant contribution to ensuring that we are all doing very well today. That is why any risk of infection should be avoided, ”continued the Altenerdingen soccer director. He would prefer it to be played again without restrictions. "A game that is characterized by a certain fear is not fun for everyone involved."
For Forstern's head of football, Marc Lindenblatt, playing for the sake of playing is secondary, and amateur football is all about the social event. "The goal is to be together - before, during and after the game." All this would no longer be the case with ghost games. Lindenblatt: “I would like to hear our many loyal spectators when we play football here and they are no longer allowed to watch it. The game and the people around it - that belongs together in our football. ”
Schediwy: Season end would be reasonable
BSG department head Ferdinand Schediwy doesn't even want to imagine “that amateurs play ghost games”. The Taufkirchener considers it the "most sensible solution to simply close the entire season. If we are out of the crisis by August and there is no longer any risk of infection, we will simply start a new season. The most important thing is the health of everyone and not football ”.
Langengeislings Chairman Sepp Kaiser fled into gallows humor: “Ghost games? How many times have you played in front of zero spectators before? ”He himself now assumes that this season will not be brought to an end.
