The clubs involved, Rapid and Austria, agreed on this measure after the riots on Sunday at the 343rd edition of the city duel on Tuesday. The Bundesliga and the two clubs involved confirmed this on Tuesday afternoon. The responsible league senate will not discuss any legal sanctions for the incidents until next Monday at the earliest.
Photo gallery: Riots after the Vienna football derby
(Photo: GEPA pictures/ David Bitzan) Bild 1/18
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On Monday, the league had already brought together representatives from Rapid and Austria to raise awareness of the need to take joint measures. “By temporarily foregoing away fans and the joint process for the period afterward, the clubs are taking an important step,” said Bundesliga CEO Christian Ebenbauer.
The clubs will not apply for tickets for the away sector for the next two away derbies, reported Austria’s CFO Harald Zagiczek in a press conference. According to the league, the away fan sectors will not remain completely empty, but will be available to home fans – and will also be used to invite charitable organizations, for example.
“Should be a positive figurehead”
“The Vienna derby is one of the most traditional games in the world and should be a positive showcase for the league and the entire country. That was not the case again on Sunday,” explained Ebenbauer. “It is our common goal to make it that way again. Safety for all spectators is the basic prerequisite for a positive stadium experience.”
Zagiczek reported on a catalogue of measures that will be drawn up in a joint working group with Rapid and the Bundesliga to make derbies safer again. “It’s about taking responsibility and drawing consequences,” explained Austria’s finance chief. “We see a clear need for action to counteract the increasingly frequent riots at Viennese derbies clearly and with all severity. This process naturally takes time and won’t happen overnight.”
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The decision not to allow away fans in the next four city duels is a first step. According to Zagiczek, the Bundesliga will determine the exact modalities. Its stated aim is to discuss framework conditions and accompanying measures with all parties “in order to create good conditions for the return of away fans,” as stated in a press release.
Safety highest priority
“It is important that we now find the best possible solutions and concepts for the future so that the Vienna derbies can once again be real football festivals for everyone involved,” emphasised Rapid President Alexander Wrabetz. The safety of all stadium visitors and the well-being of SK Rapid are our highest priority. “We, as the entire club management, are convinced that the measure that has now been taken is currently the best solution to avert further damage.”
The rival fan camps threw pyrotechnic objects at each other on Sunday at the derby, which Rapid won 2:1 in Hütteldorf, and after the final whistle, violence also escalated on the pitch. According to police reports on Monday, 27 people were injured, including ten officers. There were more than 500 reports, the majority of which were administrative offenses under the Pyrotechnics Act. However, more than 150 reports also concerned criminal law. There was one arrest for serious bodily harm.
This article was last updated on September 24th at 2:48 p.m.
