After the match between Duisburg and Osnabrück was abandoned due to alleged racist insults, both clubs pleaded for a replay in a joint statement on Monday.
At the press conference following the abandonment of the match on Sunday, MSV President Ingo Wald and VfL Managing Director Dr. Michael Welling had already spoken out in favour of a replay. This wish was emphasised by both teams in a joint statement the following day. “Together with VfL, we would like football to come out of this situation as winners and not losers,” Wald stated. He therefore considers “a replay in the spirit of the sport to be the only correct decision. ”
Football should use “reach and radiance “
He receives support from VfL President Holger Elixmann: “Neither MSV Duisburg nor VfL Osnabrück should be punished for the misconduct of a spectator.” According to him, the decision “was clearly made without a view to sporting consequences not to compete again after the racist remarks”. The resulting “signal against racism and for humanity” should be “reinforced by the scheduling of a replay”. In this way, football could “use its reach and its charisma” to “underpin messages through consistent action”.
DFB has decision-making authority
In terms of sports law, however, the DFB and the relevant authorities have the power to decide on further proceedings. However, both clubs expressed their conviction “that it is necessary to bring about a sporting decision on the green pitch in the spirit of working for tolerance and humanity. In this context, they could additionally “together with the DFB, the clubs and the fans, set another sign of solidarity and against racism”.