Union Berlin is not giving up its hopes for a stadium that is as full as possible in the shortest possible time. The Köpenicker now applied for a test game in which all fans are tested for the corona virus. Politicians see very high hurdles for the project.
Berlin (dpa) - No distance rules and masks, instead preventive coronavirus tests and the permission to cheer: 1. FC Union Berlin is fighting in times of the pandemic with a detailed concept for the return of fans to the An der Alten Försterei stadium.
As the Bundesliga team announced, an application was made to the responsible health department in the Treptow-Köpenick district to host a test match on September 5 in front of up to 3,000 visitors. The highlight: All those present should be tested for Covid-19 in advance - and this measure will replace the applicable distance rules.
Compliance with these does not correspond to "the character of many event formats", it said in a message from the Iron. A guideline has been developed for returning to an event that is as safe as possible. The prerequisite for access to the stadium is a negative test, which Union organizes itself before the match day. "You can stay in the block without gaps and / or mouth-nose protection," says the paper among other things.
The club has invested a lot of time and money on its ambitious project. "For us, this project is not primarily about football games, even if in our specific case they are the most common form of major event. Our city loses its face and its strength when almost the entire event is idle," said President Dirk Zingler . Union sees itself "obliged to look actively and with all its might for safe ways to return to an economic enterprise".
Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller does not consider the concept realistic at the moment. On the one hand, the SPD politician referred to a lack of capacities to implement the planned corona tests for the audience in advance. "Because you have to think it through to the end. If we started with Union and would say, do it from tomorrow, there will be at least 36 Bundesliga clubs in the 1st and 2nd division from tomorrow that want that too," said Müller.
In addition, no scientist can currently guarantee that one is actually negative 24 to 48 hours after a test result and that no other person can be infected with the coronavirus. Nevertheless, Müller also praised the ambitions: "I think it's really exciting and great what they have come up with for the entire ticket system." But overall he also sees very high hurdles.
The association presented its hygiene concept to the Senate and the Treptow-Köpenick district. From ticket purchase, to the Covid-19 test and the stadium visit to follow-up - Union has played through on 27 pages how a football visit should go. It is questionable whether there is a permit for this and whether it will actually be implemented. Events with more than 5000 people in the capital are banned until October 24th.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200818-99-215000 / 2
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