KAC fans angry: the election of the referee causes excitement in the final!

KAC fans angry: the election of the referee causes excitement in the final!

The Win2day Ice Hockey League final series is very tension. The KAC got back into the race with a 4-2 win against Red Bull Salzburg in the third game and now leads 2-1 in the "Best-of-Seven" series. In a strong team performance in front of 4,397 spectators in Klagenfurt, the KAC was able to make an early deficit. Captain Thomas Raffl initially put Salzburg in the lead in the 4th minute before Lukas Haudum and Manuel Ganahl made the game in the power play and Jan Mursak initiated the KAC for the first time in the 39th minute. Johannes Bischofberger then put the end of the game in the last minute of the game with a goal.

On Friday, the fourth final game at 7:30 p.m. in the Salzburg Volksgarten is on the program. With a win, Red Bull Salzburg could make the sweep perfect and win the title. However, due to the previous results, the KAC is under pressure because they had lost the first three games of the series. The KAC is challenged to keep the title, because every defeat could mean the end of the season.

referee occupation gives reason for criticism

The situation is also complicated by the controversy around the referee occupation. KAC fan camp expresses dissatisfaction about the election of Andreas Huber, the brother of the Red Bull Salzburg player Mario Huber, as a referee. Dieter Schmied, deputy chairman of the fan club "Stiege 19", criticized this decision and asked the league to avoid such casts in the future. Unfortunately, the suggestion was apparently without a consequence, which reinforced the displeasure of the KAC supporters.

The ice hockey sports landscape is repeatedly shaped by such controversial decisions. In the past, the KAC has played several times in highly exciting series, and every detail, whether a sporty or organizational nature, can influence the outcome of the championship. The KAC is not only under pressure on the ice, but also through the encounters with the fans and the associated expectations.

ice hockey in Germany and its importance

ice hockey also has a large followers in Germany. The German Ice Hockey League (DEL) and the German Ice Hockey Confederation organize the events and make important decisions regarding the league and games. In view of the popularity of sport, it is not surprising that Germany takes 8th place in the men's IIHF world rankings. In recent years, German players, such as Leon Draisaitl, have attracted international attention, and interest in ice hockey has grown steadily.

With over 4.87 million people interested, ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in Germany behind handball and football. Last season, the DEL recorded a section of 7,162 per game and the clubs generated a total of 173.6 million euros. Such figures illustrate the great importance of sport for society.

The pressure on the KAC grows while preparing for the next crucial game. It remains to be seen whether you can turn the sheet and compensate for the series to 2: 2. With every encounter, ice hockey sport in Austria and Germany becomes even more exciting and relevant for everyone involved.