2024-03-14 13:55:00
Even before the start of the championship group in the Bundesliga, a lot of things at Rapid revolve around the verbal derailments after the Vienna derby on February 25th. A new punishment was announced on Monday with a deduction of two points for the coming season due to safety-related incidents at the derby. “Now we have another week where new topics arise again, where the game is again influenced by them. At some point it will be good,” said Rapid coach Robert Klauß.
The preparation for the last two games was massively influenced by the topic. “Not just from a sporting perspective, but also from the mood and the issues we had and the distraction. Now it’s slowly getting to the point where we can no longer use it positively as a means. Now it’s like this, we just want to play football,” said the German in a fiery speech. “The pig has now been driven around the village enough.”
“Our boys have impeccable characters, they are not homophobic, they are not xenophobic, they just behaved like shit, it was a verbal derailment that cannot be excused. They clearly know that they have made a huge mistake. Nevertheless, please separate behavior from character. It was shitty behavior, but they’re not bad people,” said the 39-year-old.
Offensive player Marco Grüll also emphasized this in a Rapid podcast. “It was a huge mistake, a huge nonsense, it shouldn’t happen, it shouldn’t have any place. We are so sorry, I never meant to hurt or discriminate against anyone.” It is important that such incidents no longer occur in the future. “We will work on measures and send a very clear signal that this is not possible, because it is important that every person can feel comfortable in this world.”
According to Klauß, the club has positioned itself clearly, and a lot of discussions have already been held internally and a lot has been done. “At the moment I definitely have the feeling that everyone is taking the opportunity to point the finger at us. It keeps getting heated up because everyone feels compelled to comment on it. No matter which corner he comes from,” said Rapid’s coach angrily. For years it wasn’t a big issue and no one cared about homophobic chants or verbal gaffes. “And suddenly everyone can have their say.”
This must finally come to an end. “We as a club have to say: ‘Stop at this point,’” said Klauß. He simply acknowledged the deduction of two points. “I haven’t given it any thought, it’s still a long way off, we have our goals now, and it’s still an ongoing process where the verdict has not been confirmed. It’s up to our lawyers and the management. I take everything as it comes anyway,” said Klauß.
“Little things can shock me”
He had to experience a lot of strange things in his first months as a Rapid trainer. “I have experienced more here in four months than others have in four years,” emphasized the German. “I went to Tyrol, had to drive back and two days later we were playing on snow. I’m in Turkey and a referee comes who doesn’t have a license. Then the derby, then four players will be suspended. We play in Klagenfurt on the last matchday and a draw is enough for both. So honestly, what else is going to happen, little can shock me at the moment. Then two points are deducted, that’s just how it is.”
After all, in contrast to the 1-1 draw in Klagenfurt on Friday at home against LASK, Maximilian Hofmann and Terence Kongolo, two players who were recently suspended, are available again. Captain Guido Burgstaller, Grüll and Thorsten Schick have to continue to watch because of the verbal missteps that were made public through published videos.
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