Silence in Augsburg? Why HSV fans will stay quiet at first | OneFootball

The away game at FC Augsburg will not be an ordinary one for the HSV fan scene. They will not be supporting their club to the fullest extent.

Currently, non-sporting issues dominate the thoughts of active fans. They are concerned about their rights. The Interior Ministers Conference is planning serious measures that could significantly change the stadium experience. “Last weekend we were waving flags and singing in downtown Leipzig, today we will be without materials and support in the stands. We will spend the first 12 minutes of the game in silence,” announced the German fan scenes in a statement.

The fan organization further explained: “The contrast between lived fan culture and silent spectator stands could not be greater. It is still a dystopian scenario, but if the Interior Ministers Conference implements its plans from December 3 to 5 in Bremen, this scenario might become the new reality as early as the first weekend of December.” The introduction of personalized tickets, faster stadium bans, and facial recognition are conceivable.

HSV Advocates for Open Dialogue

Regardless of the plans, ultras are generally viewed skeptically by the general public. The approaches of the interior ministers further damage their reputation. Accordingly, the fan scenes emphasized: “The statements of the IMK and the planned changes not only destroy free fan culture but also massively and unjustifiably interfere with club structures. The years of good work by the clubs and their partners are being trampled on without any real reason.”

Therefore, it is a topic that should concern not only stadium-goers but also the clubs. They rely both financially and emotionally on the support of their fans. The fan scenes call on the clubs to “oppose these plans with all available resources and possibilities!” They already demonstrated the impact they can have last Sunday when around 20,000 supporters from various – sometimes fiercely opposed – clubs protested together in Leipzig for fan rights.

Nur die Raute – All News about HSV

The HSV addressed the issue on Thursday evening, adopting a rather diplomatic tone. However, board members Stefan Kuntz and Eric Huwer also emphasized that open dialogue is “indispensable”: “Measures affecting football and its culture require transparency and the involvement of all relevant stakeholders – clubs, fan organizations, associations, and security authorities. Only then can sustainable solutions and the trust needed for continued safe stadium visits be developed. We wish for the involvement of all parties in the current phase before decisions are made at the political level.” Less than two weeks remain to dissuade the Interior Ministers Conference from their plans.

Photo: IMAGO

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