Rapid Vienna in the crisis: Fan riots provide shock waves!

Rapid Vienna in the crisis: Fan riots provide shock waves!

A game with dramatic twists and unsightly riots: In the away game of the SK Rapid in Hartberg, there was a scandalous incident last Sunday that shakes the entire football community. The rapid fans reacted with an angry attack on the police before the kick-off when they hurled Bengal and even toilet glasses. This aggression led the police to intervene with tear gas, which delayed the kick -off time by 45 minutes, while around 900 fans panicked on the field. According to Kosmo not only have a bad light on the club, but also serious about the sporting opportunities of Rapid Vienna in a place in the master playoff endangered.

The police have now arrested four alleged rioters, while Rapid managing director Steffen Hofmann tried to defuse the situation. In an interview with Sky, he commented that it made no sense to assign guilt and noted that such incidents are widespread in Europe. Hofmann, who calls for a clear distancing of violent fans, explained that he wanted to work protectively for the association, but not for those who exercise violence. His words were clear: "I protect the club, but not individual fans"; An appeal that is urgently needed even after the serious incidents at the Vienna Derby in September 2024, as he himself noted, because stadium bans could follow again for the polluters, such as Laola1 reported.

Financial and sporting consequences foreseeable

The incident has not only exerted sporting but also financial pressure on the club. Rapid could threaten punishments of up to 150,000 euros, in addition to the two million euros already issued for similar violations in recent years. In addition, the association is under observation in the course of the investigation after last year. A possible sector lock for the Block West during outstanding games against opponents like Sturm Graz or Austria Vienna would be a bitter loss, especially if Rapid missed the master playoff. The Bundesliga has already started a procedure against Rapid, but a judgment is only expected after the next important home game.