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Wolfsburg scrape to safety on last Bundesliga day

Coach Felix Magath admitted feeling an empty sense of relief after avoiding German league relegation for the fourth time in his career thanks to VfL Wolfsburg's 3-1 win at Hoffenheim.

Published: 15 May 2011 11:20 CEST
Wolfsburg scrape to safety on last Bundesliga day
Photo: DPA

Having conceded a goal just after half-time, his side were heading for a defeat which would have meant a drop to the second division before they roared back to floor Hoffenheim when the German league season finished on Saturday.

Wolfsburg’s Wolves were rescued when Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic netted twice before Brazil striker Grafite scored a third to seal victory. The result means the 2009 champions avoid relegation by just two points and finish 15th – just above the relegation places.

Magath maintains his proud record of having never been relegated despite four close shaves, having also won the Bundesliga title just two years ago with Wolfsburg and twice while coach of Bayern Munich.

The 57-year-old also avoided relegation with Hamburg, in 1995-96, Eintracht Frankfurt, in 1999-2000 and VfB Stuttgart, in 2000-01.

“It’s been dramatic,” admitted Magath, who only took over as Wolfsburg coach in March after ex-England coach Steve McClaren was sacked with his side sliding down the table. I just now feel very relieved and empty.”

“The tension was incredibly high. We fell behind early in the second half and because of the other results, it meant were were effectively relegated, so this is a tremendous relief.”

There was drama in the build-up to kick off as Wolfsburg’s Brazil midfielder Diego stormed out on the team after being dropped for the final game.

The 26-year-old play-maker, who has won 33 caps for Brazil, walked out of the pre-match team meeting after being told by Magath and then refused to travel with the team to the Wolfsburg stadium.

The Brazilian, who signed for €15 million from Juventus in August, now has an uncertain future at the club and is set to be at least heavily punished following his tantrum.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my career, I did not try to reason with him,” said Magath.

“Initially, we wanted to build a new team around him next season, but after what has happened, we’ll see,” said Magath, who is a notorious disciplinarian.

The bad-boy Brazilian, who has a history of disciplinary problems, has also fallen off-side with his team-mates. “This action by Diego, before such an important game, is inexcusable,” said Wolfsburg captain Marcel Schäfer. “To do such a thing and leave before a big game, that’s just not on.”

After Wolfsburg finished 15th, Eintracht Frankfurt and St. Pauli are the two teams to be relegated.

Borussia Mönchengladbach end the season 16th and face a two-legged play-off against the side who finish third in the second division side.

AFP/bk

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SPORT

EXPLAINED: The Covid rules for attending German football matches

The German Bundesliga kicks off on Friday evening with a match in Mönchengladbach. Here's a run-down of the Covid rules for football fans itching to join the crowds at the stadium.

Published: 13 August 2021 17:39 CEST
EXPLAINED: The Covid rules for attending German football matches
Crowds cheer at a match between FC Kaiserslautern and Borussia Mönchengladbach, on August 9th, 2021. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Uwe Anspach

All eyes will be on Mönchengladbach this evening as the Bundesliga season kicks off with a match against reigning champions Bayern Munich – and this time, a crowd will be present in the stadium.

READ ALSO: German football fans get green light to return to stadiums next season

With several states liberalising their rules for public gatherings in recent months, many football fans are looking forward to enjoying a lively atmosphere at football matches once more. 

There’s just one problem: there are different rules for different stadiums. Here’s what you need to know about the Covid rules before you book your ticket for any of the upcoming fixtures. 

How many fans are allowed in the stadiums? 

According to a recent decision by the federal and state governments, football stadiums around the country are allowed to fill half of their seats and sell up to 25,000 tickets to fans. 

Of course, how much this limit affects the overall atmosphere – and the football clubs’ bottoms lines – depends on the capacity of the stadium. In Borussia Dortmund this weekend, the full 25,000 tickets have been sold – but that only equates to 30 percent of the stadium’s full capacity.

READ ALSO: German football: Which Bundesliga club should I support?

Meanwhile, in the stadium owned by Berlin’s FC Union, selling just 11,000 tickets is enough to fill half of the available seats. 

What do I need to show to get in? 

That really depends on the stadium in question, although in general anyone over the age of six will need to show a negative test or proof of vaccination or recovery – the so-called ‘3G’ rule – to enter the grounds. But other clubs, such as FC Cologne, have decided to only permit people who are vaccinated or recovered to attend matches from August 28th onwards – with exceptions for people who can’t get vaccinated, like children and pregnant woman.

At Mönchengladbach’s Borussia Park stadium, however, unvaccinated fans can enter with a negative test, though visitors who’ve stayed in a high-risk or virus variant area over the past two weeks will be unable to enter – along with people who’ve had recent contact with someone who has Covid. 


If you want to see action like this at FC Cologne’s stadium, you’ll need to get your Covid jabs sorted first. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Robert Michael

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund has taken a middle ground. While the 3G rule applies in principle, only 1,000 of the available 25,000 tickets will be sold to people who are providing a negative test. The remaining 24,000 seats will only be available for those who are vaccinated against – or recently recovered from – Covid. 

If you’re not vaccinated and are keen to see a match, it’s worth checking on your local club’s website beforehand or sending them an email to double-check whether you will be allowed in. 

What else do I need to know about? 

You’ll need to bring a FPP2 mask with you to matches to wear in your seat and while heading to the bathroom or bar, and also observe social distancing rules – meaning staying 1.5 metres apart from your fellow fans.

In most states, you’ll also need to provide your contact details, which will be saved by the club and potentially passed on to local health authorities in order to monitor a potential Covid outbreak. 

Will these rules continue throughout the season?

That’s still an open question. If infection rates in Germany continue to rise or high-profile superspreading events occur at future matches, the government could potentially crack down further on sports events in autumn.

This could involve limiting the seat numbers even further, or (more controversially), introducing a ‘vaccinated-only’ rule for entering stadiums. 

READ ALSO: Should Germany bring in Covid restrictions for unvaccinated people only?

A recent outbreak of Covid in the Mainz football team has also dampened celebrations slightly in the run-up to the start of the Bundesliga – leaving club owners urgently calling for both fans and footballers to get vaccinated. 

Speaking to WDR ahead of the season’s start, FC Cologne’s managing director Alexander Wehrle said widespread vaccination was the best route back to normality – a message reiterated by Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann. 

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