"Schizophrenia high 3!": The curious reactions to ghost games in the Bundesliga

The Bundesliga is running again - but without full stadiums. How are the ghost games received by the audience? Many fans express their displeasure online. But there are also positive voices.

• The Bundesliga was the first major sports league to resume operations.
• Due to the corona security measures , the 26th matchday takes place with ghost games * .
• How are these received by the audience ? Participants describe their impressions, Twitter is hot.

It was already clear beforehand that the 26th Bundesliga matchday would take some getting used to. Football fans across Germany are undecided what to think about the new start despite the corona pandemic . Many supporters are likely to be split even after the Saturday games on May 16 - but it was finally shown how the professional footballers cope with the ghost game situation , which the club's Ultras are critical of *, including DFL security measures.

Ghost games in the Bundesliga: "surreal" and "a bit strange"

There was a yawning emptiness in the stadiums of the stadiums * - only files were sometimes alone in the stands, further down there were reservations of the teams. "There is something surreal about getting text messages from all over the world in the last two hours before kick-off, that people are sitting in front of the television today and then you are driving through your city and there is nothing going on," said BVB managing director Hans- Joachim Watzke  his impressions before the kick-off of the area derby against Schalke 04 at Sky .

Christian Streich, coach of SC Freiburg , spoke on the sidelines of the game with FC Bayern pursuers * RB Leipzig that corona ghost games would not necessarily mean an advantage for away teams: "I don't think neither for us nor for the others. It's just a little bit strange. If you play away and the opposing fans are fully there, it also pushes you as an away team. "

Corona ghost games: pros and cons - emotional Twitter debate

While the protagonists on and off the grass try to deal with the situation moderately and inevitably radiate optimism, the reactions online are naturally much more emotional. The games without a stadium atmosphere and atmosphere in the stands is unsatisfactory for many:

Conclusion after the first 90 minutes #Bundesliga without fans in the stadium: ghost games are completely for the ass.

Cult commentator Manni Breuckmann also makes no secret of his aversion to ghost games:

"They don't play for me as a football fan today, but for the fact that they don't have to pay back the 300 million in TV money." Manni Breuckmann is critical of the ghost games.

Other Twitter users notice a discrepancy between the different security measures used, which also raise questions outside of football in public:

Can someone explain to me what the bullshit with the face masks and the seat spacing for the players is supposed to do? On the field you can rub your noses against each other during the header - but not cheer after the goal? #Geisterspiele #Bundesliga @Bundesliga_DE @SkySportDE

Quite a few are reminded of good old days from the "village", where a similar number of spectators get lost at the football fields:

Watching ghost games live somehow has a bit of "Sundays in the village". Standing at the fence and watching. You can hear the players shouting, you can still hear the ball ...
I just have to get a beer, grill a sausage and put up a fence

Corona virus: ghost games in the Bundesliga? Sandhausen professional without desire

In league two, in which there was a sky breakdown, even some professionals had no desire for ghost games, as the magazine Fums  - not really serious - noticed:

If you don't feel like playing ghost games but are a regular player. # AUESVS #Diekmeier pic.twitter.com/pdgAi5GvRY

Of course, the factors money and commerce also play a major role in the criticism voiced. Will the Bundesliga implement the announcements by Uli Hoeneß and Co. * to slow down the spiraling financial spiral * in professional football? Some have doubts:

Today the ball rolls again in the @DFL_Official. By the way, it's also about championship and relegation. However, the main purpose of the #Geisterspiele is to keep an industry alive, which is characterized by completely excessive salaries and dubious business practices. @DFB

However, in the course of the Bundesliga ghost games there are not only critics, but also positive reactions: for example from Micky Beisenherz *. The cult author and avowed BVB fan actually sees Corona ghost games critically, as he puts it. However, that changed rapidly after the Revierderby ...

I have always viewed #Geisterspiele very critically.
Now, however, my #bvb has won 4-0 and I am completely thrilled that football will continue, now that #Corona has ended.

Conversely, fans whose teams lose or are behind are naturally a little less enthusiastic:

Yes, everything is not great, ghost games are shit, the mood is missing, but it doesn't matter now. #AllSGEben EIIIIINTRACHT FRANKFURT #SGEBMG #aufjetzt ⚫⚪❤️

It will be a while before football fans get used to ghost games in empty arenas, which currently seem to be the only option due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, there is a doctor who gives hope with an idea that has so far been little discussed.

PF