Rangnick: Schocked the killing spree - society has to stick together!

Rangnick: Schocked the killing spree - society has to stick together!

On June 11, 2025, Austrian football coach Ralf Rangnick was deeply affected by a tragic killing spree in Graz, who clouded the joy of the success of his team at the World Cup qualification. Rangnick and his supervisory staff informed the players about the current events, which brought the coach to the realization that this day was one of the most difficult in his training career. The killing spree reminded him of comparable tragedies, including the events on September 11, 2001 and the killing spree of Winnenden in 2009. While Rangnick pointed to the success of the ÖFB team, which started with two wins in the World Cup qualification, the amoclauf remained a shadow above this triumph. Austria had recently won 4-0 against San Marino, but the shock over the act of violence towered over the sporting act.

In his speech after the game, Rangnick emphasized the urgently needed responsibility that society has to prevent such incidents in the future. He spoke about the grief and fears of the parents concerned and appealed that all members of society should respect and support each other. This is all the more important, since current crises, such as the Ukraine War and the situation in Israel and Gaza, have already burdened many people. Rangnick asked how a strong community can be built up, which enables children and adolescents to grow up.

The appeal for social responsibility

Rangnick put the unity of society in the foreground and spoke about the polarity of fear and love. He demanded that the pole of love should put more on the focus in order to counteract dangerous developments. "We have to take care of each other," said Rangnick, and he encouraged the players to seriously tackle the upcoming game. Despite the social shock, the performance of the ÖFB team in the first half was assessed as "absolutely fine", which gives hope for further progress in qualification.

On June 11, 2025, Rangnick continued to emphasize the importance of protecting not only democracy, but also social structures. Scientific research, as shown by the Federal Center for Political Education, shows that violence exists in many forms - be it physically through simple conflicts or in long -term social conflicts. Rangnick is aware of the role that plays such violent acts in society and sees the need to be preventive.

outlook for the future

The next course of the Austrian national team is in September, with games against Cyprus and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Rangnick hopes that key players like David Alaba and Xaver Schlager will be fit again until then. He remains optimistic about the qualification options for the World Cup, provided that the team remains mostly healthy. Rangnick's appeal to society and the focus on preventive measures could not only be important in sports, but in all areas of life. The challenges that have violence events require a common action by everyone involved for a better future.

Overall, this situation not only illustrates the interactions between sport, society and violence, but also emphasizes the responsibility that each individual bears in order to create a non -violent and supportive environment. As violent research shows, social relationships are crucial to understand the roots of violence and to promote constructive solutions. Through Rangnick's words, football can also serve as a platform to put important social issues in the foreground and work together on solutions.