At Borussia Dortmund’s general meeting on Sunday, Hans-Joachim Watzke rejected nationwide regulations on the spectator issue – and at the same time defended BVB’s path of having recently reverted to a 3G regulation.
The fourth Corona wave is shaking Germany – and football is not spared. The federal state of Saxony has already decreed ghost matches again, and in NRW stadium visits will only be allowed by vaccinated and convalescent people in future. Further restrictions cannot be ruled out for the coming weeks, as the situation is developing too dynamically. The general meeting of Borussia Dortmund, which took place under 2G conditions, was not spared on Sunday. The programme was trimmed down, and the traditional singing of the club anthem at the end of the event in Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen was cancelled.
“This is not the time to make big battle announcements or throw grand designs at the wall. We need to make sure that we stay on top of this pandemic that we have to keep fighting. That is a huge challenge, “, said BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke right at the beginning of his speech, which was brief this time. In it, the 62-year-old clearly positioned himself against uniform nationwide regulations on the issue of spectator admissions. “I am of the opinion that we cannot be held collectively liable with other regions where people have had far fewer vaccinations,” said Watzke, summing up: “We have done our homework in NRW. “
He said he was not aware of any incidents in connection with a Borussia Dortmund match in the surrounding health authorities. When drafting new regulations, it should therefore be borne in mind that “football is an open-air event”.
As long as the legislator allows something else, this is explosive for a club.
Watzke defended the fact that BVB had initially relied on a 2G model but then switched to 3G in the open grandstand area after being asked about it by a member during the meeting. The issue had been a major concern for those in charge at the club, the CEO admitted, drawing a bitter conclusion: “You can’t win with that in the end.” The club had relied on this model “in anticipatory obedience” and because it was expected that the state politicians in NRW would introduce 2G. The politicians, however, did not follow suit at first, whereupon “indignant letters” from a “not quite small minority” of members landed on Watzke’s desk. They threatened to leave because the club would not follow the policy guidelines.
The 2G rule applies again against FC Bayern
“As long as the legislator allows something else, it is explosive for a club, “ argued Watzke with regard to the 2G rule that was initially introduced on his own authority. Therefore, in the future, the club will strictly follow what the legislator prescribes. For the coming weeks, this means that 2G will once again apply in the stands in Dortmund and not only in the VIP area. Already in the next home match against FC Bayern (4 December), only those who have either been vaccinated or have recovered will be admitted. “Politics “, said Watzke, “has moved towards us again. “
Corona is causing “one or two wounds “
With regard to BVB’s economic strength, Watzke emphasised during his short ride through the business figures how important the recent chapter increase had been. He said that he currently no longer sees a deficit when he looks at the accounts. Corona will not knock BVB over, “but it is inflicting one or two wounds on us”. However, there will be no layoffs or a switch to short-time work in the future. “We have held out very well so far, “ said Watzke and promised: “We will continue to do so. “
