Moving action by two rivals: before the top game in the second Bundesliga, players from Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV held a banner together demanding an end to the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine leads to amazing alliances. The EU is suddenly speaking with one voice again, the leading western industrial nations have agreed to exclude Russian banks from the international information system Swift. And in football, arch-rivals are suddenly standing side by side to protest the war.
Just before the kick-off of the second division premier game between Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen, the players of the competing northern clubs united on the lawn of the Volksparkstadion and held up a banner designed in the colors of the Ukrainian national flag.
It was written: “We together for peace! Stop War!”. An unmistakable message to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war of aggression against Ukraine immediately. The lettering was flanked by the club emblems of the two clubs.
Werder Bremen was coached by a Ukrainian
Bremen has a special history with the country on the Black Sea. Club legend Viktor Skripnik is Ukrainian, he became German champion with SV Werder in 2004, won the DFB Cup twice and coached the club at times.
The Georgian Giorgi Chakvetadze is currently under contract with HSV, who has already positioned himself clearly against the Russian invasion of Ukraine on his Instagram page. Georgia itself fell victim to Russian aggression in 2008.
Separated by colours, united by the subject
The fact that the teams from Hamburg and Bremen decided to make this joint statement should not be underestimated as a signal: the supporters of both clubs share a deep dislike.
And the current table situation could not be more explosive: Both teams are playing for promotion to the first Bundesliga. Before the game, they were only a point apart.
With the campaign, however, they show that there are more important things than football on days like these. And when it comes to dictators like Putin, the rule is: separate in color, united in substance. A signal not to be underestimated.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
