MUNICH (dpa-AFX) – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge sees enormous dangers for football in long-lasting ghost games in the Corona crisis. “If we don’t have fans in the stadiums again soon, then I fear that football will suffer great damage,” said the CEO of Bayern Munich to “Bild am Sonntag”. On the one hand, the loss of football culture threatens, and the 65-year-old also expressed financial concerns. “In total, we are actually talking about a loss of around 100 million euros. Every club across Europe loses between 50 and 200 million euros in a season that it has to play without spectators. How long a football club can take that you can count yourself on five fingers. “
The city of Munich recently announced that due to the increased corona numbers, football games in the Bavarian capital will take place without fans until at least October 25th. Nationwide, a maximum utilization of 20 percent of the respective stadium capacity is permitted in the test phase until the end of October.
Rummenigge said there was “a top concept” for the return of fans, which was also coordinated with the city of Munich. “But we are absolutely dependent on political decisions, like the whole country. And if the political decisions are made like that, then you are a little unconscious.” There is a good cooperation, said Rummenigge about Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). However, he has the feeling “that the common thread between football and politics has been lost a bit.”
If the season were to end, Rummenigge would fear a collapse of the league. “Several Bundesliga clubs would not survive that. Several,” he said. “I cannot imagine that the Bundesliga could continue to exist in its current form in the future. Even with the current conditions, there are rumors that some clubs are in danger of bankruptcy.” / Lü / DP / zb
