"That's cheeky" – fierce HSV fan criticism over Leipzig match scheduling | OneFootball

On Sunday evening, HSV will host RB Leipzig at the unusual kickoff time of 7:30 PM. However, this timing does not please the fans.

Particularly, visiting fans face difficulties. In the case of Leipzig—RB used only about 2,000 of the 5,700 available tickets—fans will not reach home until late at night. Traveling by train is even more complicated, with arrival in Leipzig not possible before 6:00 AM. Additionally, many Hamburg fans are affected as well, since not all of them are from the Hanseatic city and some travel long distances even for home games.

Simon Philipps from the HSV Supporters Club, which represents around 90,000 members, expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling by the DFL. “The DFL introduced the Sunday evening slot to relieve clubs with European competition burdens—that was the promise. What was meant as a sensible exception is now gradually being expanded into a regular third Sunday game, completely independent of whether a club is playing in Europe at all,” he emphasized in a conversation with the Abendblatt.

Photo: Getty Images

HSV Supporters Club points to the original reason for the late Sunday slot

“We are playing at this time for the second time against an opponent without any European competition burden—that's cheeky,” Philipps continued, referring to HSV. “The kickoff time is unfriendly to fans, unfriendly to families, and dangerous for away games because, in the end, it means thousands of people have to hit the highways in the middle of the night. In the end, the people who make football worthwhile—the fans in the stands—suffer. We will not accept this.”

During the away game at Union Berlin, which also kicked off on a Sunday at 7:30 PM, HSV supporters expressed their displeasure. “Liars, hypocrites, enemies of football,” was written on banners held up during the match. The DFL remained calm in the face of the criticism. In response to an inquiry from the Abendblatt, they stated that the Sunday games are not only distributed among internationally represented clubs, as they do not consider that fair. The goal is a fair distribution of Sunday games throughout the season.

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For the Hamburg opponent from Leipzig, this statement is likely to cause annoyance. In just two weeks, they have to play away again at 7:30 PM, this time traveling even further for a guest appearance at VfB Stuttgart. Meanwhile, HSV can look forward to three consecutive Saturday games.

Photo: IMAGO

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.