Eintracht Frankfurt chief to fans: Don't show up or we'll get a loss

Published on: 08 May 2020

Julien Laurens and Gab Marcotti discuss team doctors' involvements in restarting the Premier League. With the Bundesliga set for a May 16 return, Jan Aage Fjortoft joins Gab & Juls to assess the title race.

Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic warned fans to stay away from Bundesliga stadiums when play re-starts or otherwise risk teams dropping points.

Germany's top flight will resume on May 16 with games being held behind closed doors due to a country-wide ban on mass gatherings in place until at least Aug. 31.

- Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+
- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

While fans may be tempted to congregate outside of venues, former Die Mannschaft great Bobic had a stern message. 

"We talked a lot with our own fans at Frankfurt and said 'listen guys, don't show up at the stadium -- if you show up at the stadium, we will lose this game because the rules are very strict.' If they show up, the result goes to the away team," Bobic told ESPN's Tom Hamilton. 

"[The fans] are smart, though. They've followed the rules in the last weeks, they've done a lot for the community, especially for the elders. So we are confident, we are in good communication with the fan groups and the signal from the fans is very positive that they won't show up at the stadium. 

"That's the right thing to do. It's not allowed -- we've re-opened a lot of things, but that's not allowed, big groups. Don't show up at the stadium, it makes no sense."

ESPN's request for comment from the Bundesliga was not immediately returned.

All Bundesliga teams must go into a seven-day quarantine training camp prior to the restart of the season next weekend.

The German government gave professional football in the country the all-clear to return to action after the German Football Association (DFL) took great efforts to present a plan on how to play in a near risk-free environment.

The league presented a detailed 51-page medical plan for match operations to return and after minor adjustments it was passed by the political decision-makers. Keeping in mind that football is a contact sport, the plan has been put in place to avoid infected players taking to the pitch.

"Everyone in the league must be aware that we are playing on parole and every match day is a chance to prove that we deserve the next one," DFL chief Christian Seifert told a news conference on Thursday.

"We can't relieve anyone of this responsibility, and I wish for everyone to fulfil this responsibility -- just like thousands of other workers and employees do in other branches every day.

"If you do not have the virus, you can not spread the virus. And you must do all you can to avoid getting the virus."

ESPN's Stephen Uersfeld contributed to this report.

Source: espn.co.uk

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more