Villacher football clubs in need: Langer Weg to the 1st grade West!

Villacher football clubs in need: Langer Weg to the 1st grade West!

The two football clubs from Villach, Admira Villach and Magdalener SC, are defending themselves against the new group division in the 1st class West. This restructuring has not only led to the disadvantage of the two clubs, but also to ensure that the journey through the games significantly increases, which means both financial and logistical stress. Overall, the club community is faced with far -reaching problems that result from the new league division.

The decision to classify the affected clubs should play in the West Group, while surrounding neighbors remain in the more attractive 1st class center. It becomes particularly challenging for the players and supporters, as travel paths of up to 240 kilometers to the games in places such as Kötschach or Ainet are imminent. These long approaches not only promise high driving expenses, but also falling income from the canteens and fewer spectators.

reactions of the club representatives

The Admira chairman, Wolfgang Bärntatz, comments concerned about the financial consequences that could follow these changes: "Massive driving expenses and falling income are already foreseeable." The chairman of the Magdalener SC, Michael Preyhaupt, also reports serious difficulties because many players are not willing to take the long ways. In view of this misery, Mayor Günther Albel (SPÖ) and sports officer Harald Sobe urgently call for discussions with the Carinthian Football Association. Albel describes the decision as "incomprehensible" and emphasizes the need for regional anchoring in popular sports.

Both clubs have already taken steps and submitted a protest to the association to draw attention to their precarious circumstances. In times when sport plays an important role in social life, the demand for a review of the league division is getting louder and urges those responsible to rethink.

football league system in comparison

In the context of the Austrian football system, a comparison to the multi-layered football league system in Germany can be drawn. This structure comprises a total of 2235 leagues on up to 13 levels with 31,645 teams (season 2016/17). The league system enables every member association of the DFB to climb into the Bundesliga. Such a clearly defined structure could also be an advantage for Austrian football in order to avoid regional and financial disadvantage of clubs. In Germany, the highest division, the Bundesliga, with 18 professional teams and a league pyramid that has existed since 2012/13, is the yardstick, while the regional and upper leagues also form an important part of the system that is organized by the respective state association.