2024-02-27 08:39:59
As is well known, videos were published on various social media yesterday showing SK Rapid officials and players celebrating following winning the Vienna derby. You can see and hear inappropriate and insulting statements that should not have been made like that and for which SK Rapid as a whole can only ask for forgiveness.
Yesterday, managing director SK Rapid Steffen Hofmann personally apologized to FK Austria Vienna for a statement he made and made phone calls to sports director Manuel Ortlechner and president Kurt Gollowitzer. Hofmann added yesterday: “The words I used were absolutely inappropriate. The joy of winning the derby remains, as do my regrets regarding the choice of words. That’s why I would like to apologize for that; despite all the rivalry, that was and is not appropriate. I personally apologized to Vienna Austria for this on Monday.”
In the course of late Monday evening, further clips appeared in which players and officials from the team’s area might also be seen or heard. On behalf of those involved who sincerely regret this behavior, assistant coach Stefan Kulovits says: “I will also immediately apologize to my colleagues at Wiener Austria in a personal conversation. In the emotion following the liberating derby victory, we made a big mistake. The fan chant we play is in complete contradiction to our values as a club and to my personal values, which I have exemplified in more than two decades in professional football and would like to continue to exemplify. In my circle of friends there are people from all walks of life with different sexual orientations, I can only reiterate my sincere regret for the words we used. The rivalry with our sporting competitors should, without exception, be limited to competition on the grass.”
Captain Guido Burgstaller also has clear words for the players involved and says: “Unfortunately, we cannot undo this mistake. In this way, we would also like to clearly distance ourselves from any discrimination and homophobia and apologize to anyone who we have directly or indirectly offended through our behavior. We are aware that we have a role model effect, and unfortunately we absolutely did not live up to this role with our actions following the game.”
President Alexander Wrabetz and Vice-President Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger say unequivocally regarding the matter: “The SK Rapid Executive Board condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent homophobic statements surrounding the Vienna Derby, which is so enjoyable in terms of sport. The denigration of people based on different characteristics or lifestyles should have no place at Rapid. As is already anchored in our mission statement, we see social diversity as enrichment and, as a green-white community, we want to make a contribution to greater diversity and inclusion. Respect and appreciation for diversity are cornerstones of our club and we expect that everyone who works at Rapid and feels connected to our club also commits to our values. As the executive board, we would also like to apologize for the misconduct documented on videos and will continue to work on this matter internally.”
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#Statement #342nd #Vienna #Derby
