Bundesliga soccer team LASK continues to struggle. After the coaching hullabaloo over the expulsion of Thomas Sageder, the club is also struggling with negative headlines on other fronts: in the 0-1 defeat against Sturm Graz, the hard core of LASK fans protested again against their team’s pink jerseys and threw them detergent tabs onto the field, causing the game to be interrupted.
The club took tough action, but did not investigate the direct perpetrators, but issued six indefinite bans from the house, which, according to the fan collective “Landstrassler”, included the chairman, deputy chairman, treasurer, deputy treasurer and the secretary of the fan club. umbrella organization are affected.
Arbitrary punishments that are also incomprehensible to LASK stadium spokesman Wolfgang Fröschl – who for this reason announced his immediate resignation on Facebook late on Thursday evening. The “Voice of LASK” actually didn’t want to stop as the athletes’ stadium spokesman until the summer.
In addition to personal reasons, it was above all the reaction of the club officials at his favorite club in the jersey issue before today’s home game against Salzburg that prompted him to take this step. “For me, the air is out; I no longer want to organize my life (and that of my family) according to the general schedule,” writes Fröschl on Facebook.
The complete statement from Wolfgang Fröschl:
“Can’t pretend it doesn’t happen”
“By the way, I would like to mention that the changes at LASK in recent years are of course one of the reasons for my decision. I cannot stand on the sideline and act as if nothing is happening when my club issues completely absurd bans on the house. excludes friends and companions.” Postscript: “So I’ll leave it, I’ll stop – and not just at the end of the season, but immediately.”
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Almost 40 years ago, as a 10-year-old, he somehow ended up in the “7s sector”, grew up there, saw how a “bunch” became a block, and (co-)founded fan clubs. Even today he wants to support LASK in the stadium as he did back then – as an ardent fan.
This is how LASK reacts
Yesterday, LASK also reacted to the recent events in Graz in a press release and also declared the house bans: “The behavior shown endangers the safety of stadium visitors and also causes considerable damage to the club. The Bundesliga already has proceedings against LASK initiated and reported the case. The LASK expects a high fine.”
The chosen form of protest is diametrically opposed to the club’s values. “The LASK positions itself as a family club and wants to offer all spectators a special stadium experience in a pleasant atmosphere in which the personal safety of each individual has top priority. The image given in Graz is in clear contradiction to our fan culture and our value system. The LASK condemns Therefore, the incidents were sharpened and, due to the current situation, was forced to exercise his house rights and impose sanctions. These include five house and stadium bans against members of the registered fan club “Landstrassler” who have officially acknowledged the above-mentioned actions, as well as another The person responsible for the Black and White Initiative was banned from entering the building. As a result of the masking of the people involved, the punishments had to be pronounced against those members who hold official positions and therefore bear the main responsibility.”
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The house bans mean the next level of escalation – which is why the LASK fan scene has already announced that there will be a boycott of today’s home game against Salzburg. The club regrets this step, but sticks to its line: “We regret withdrawing support from the team, especially in this crucial phase of the season, and foregoing active support. Nevertheless, we consider the sanctions to be an alternative to the club’s values as well as to protect all stadium visitors, especially families and children. Furthermore, the LASK will in no way allow this image of a minority to dominate a majority.”
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Author
Raphael Watzinger
Sports editor
Raphael Watzinger
