The big movement against the right is also affecting professional football. A trainer finds very clear words – and warns.
Christian Streich took to the streets himself. The SC Freiburg coach, who has been finding words of warning about socio-political developments for years, demonstrated against right-wing extremism in his hometown this week along with thousands of others. More clearly than ever before, a number of clubs in the Bundesliga followed suit with the call to stand up for democratic values in the 2024 election year.
“If you don’t get up now, you haven’t understood anything. (…) It’s five to twelve,” said Streich on Thursday. “Everyone in this country is called upon to take a clear position in their family circles, at work or elsewhere.” In Leipzig, Streich’s coaching colleague Marco Rose warned: “I think it’s very important to stand up against stupidity and right-wing extremism in every form. I think it’s good that people are doing that, that they’re clearly showing their colors and taking to the streets go.”
The background to the current discussions about democracy and right-wing extremism is a meeting between right-wing extremists and politicians from the AfD and CDU in a Potsdam villa, which was publicized by the media company Correctiv. Martin Sellner, the former head of the right-wing extremist Identitarian movement in Austria, also spoke there. Ahead of the state elections in September in Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony, the AfD is currently ahead in surveys there, in some cases clearly.
Professional football mobilizes – in all areas of society
“Never again is now! Everyone come around,” wrote FSV Mainz 05 at a meeting against the right that was planned for the evening. Second division club FC St. Pauli sent a circular calling on all members to go to the “Hamburg gets up” event on Friday afternoon at the Rathausmarkt. A total of several hundred thousand people follow the clubs – in a composition that could hardly be more heterogeneous.
“It has considerable value because right-wing radical circles are also attracted to Bundesliga football,” said sports philosopher Gunter Gebauer of the German Press Agency about the calls from football. “And if they are confronted with a contrary opinion that is presented firmly and convincingly, it will also impress them.” That wouldn’t mean they’d change their minds, “but it will certainly take away a certain level of security for them.”
Commitment to football is not entirely new. In addition, “the clubs and teams are willing to participate in a broader and stronger way,” said Gebauer, who sees the reason for this as an increasing threat to democracy. “It certainly is,” he emphasized. It is also due to the fact that many foreign professionals are employed in Bundesliga clubs. “They are closing the circle around their foreign players. I think there is also concern for them,” said Gebauer.
The role of football in society
When asked, the German Football League referred to its statutes, according to which the DFL is “aware of the great social and socio-political importance of football.” Streich emphasized that anyone who remained seated had not understood anything. “No one should whine about being ruled by an authoritarian, right-wing nationalist group.”
On Wednesday, defender Timo Hübers from 1. FC Cologne praised an anti-right demonstration in the Bundesliga club’s city and clearly positioned himself against right-wing ideas. “What was definitely an outstanding action was the action last night at Heumarkt,” said defender Hübers in a video shared by the club from the meeting in Cologne city center.
Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was more reserved on Thursday. “Perhaps one or two coaches would like to keep the focus on sport,” the American interjected. Personally, he was not yet ready “to open up about all sorts of topics. Maybe there will come a time when I say: Now is the moment when I want to influence society with my opinion.” Streich has been around for “a few more years.”
Source: Stern
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