Michael Strebl, chairman of the Wien-Energie management, expects the club bosses to take “concrete measures to ensure that officials and players adhere to the values of SK Rapid and to prevent further misconduct.” The statements made should not only be condemned by society as a whole, but would also have a massively negative impact on Wien Energie.
Rapid managing director Steffen Hofmann had insulted his city rivals, assistant coach Stefan Kulovits and the players Guido Burgstaller, Marco Grüll, Thorsten Schick, Maximilian Hofmann and Niklas Hedl had joined in with homophobic chants. Their apologies and the fact that Rapid President Alexander Wrabetz and Vice President Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger condemned the events will not be enough.
Kogler: “I’ve had enough”
Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler took the sponsors to task as a corrective measure. “I’ve had enough now. We’re really doing a lot, so it can’t be that the clubs are rotting from the inside out,” said Kogler. “Homophobia, racism and sexism have no place and that can’t just apply to Sunday speeches, but must also be lived.” He called on Rapid and other affected clubs to seek outside help. “It seems to me that this is a blatant case for this need – that’s still putting it diplomatically.”
“A blatant case”
The Ministry of Sports launched “100% Sport”, and the ÖFB and the Bundesliga set up the “Football for All” ombudsman’s office to combat discrimination years ago. The ombudsman is Oliver Egger, the first openly homosexual footballer in Austria. “I’m asked so often: Why don’t more footballers come out? Videos like this are the perfect answer. Because football has still not created an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome,” explained Egger.
The Bundesliga has filed a complaint once morest the club and the people involved in the video with Senate 1. Rapid has one week to comment.
