Rapid under pressure: partial lock in the stadium to riots!

Rapid under pressure: partial lock in the stadium to riots!

On March 29, 2025, the Rapid Vienna football club is facing a challenging Situation due to past riots. The Block West and the second back torturum of the Allianz Stadium remain empty due to a partial lock. This measure is a direct consequence of violent incidents after the game against Hartberg, which suffered both spectators and the police. According to Krone , around 9,000 places are affected, which leads to a noticeable decline in ticket sales. Until yesterday, only 10,000 out of 17,000 tickets available were sold, which makes the expectations bleak for the upcoming game.

The situation is described as "bleak" because less than 15,200 fans in the stadium are expected, which would be the lowest viewer this season. Rapid Vienna has around 4,900 subscribers on the blocked grandstands who receive a credit but do not want to buy new tickets. An alternative fan sector that could have contributed to relief was also excluded by the league senate.

injured fans and police officers

Violence occurred during the 21st Bundesliga round in Hartberg, where nine police officers and two Rapid fans were injured. Before kick-off, pyrotechnic objects and other objects threw the accompanied supporters of Rapid to the police, who then reacted with tear gas and stormed the fan sector. Rapid distanced himself from the acts of violence and announced a collaboration with the authorities. League boss Christian Ebenbauer explained that sanctions are in prospect, but a deduction of points for Rapid is excluded, according to his statement, according to the report by .

The current incidents are part of a major problem within German football. In this way, the use of pyrotechnics in the stadiums is becoming increasingly a challenge. Reports about riots, such as the Bundesliga game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart, led to over 200 injuries. In many stadiums, fan groups show banners against the increasing police force, while the discussion about the commitment of the police and the order service in the stadium is intensively conducted, as in an article by ZDF is.

rapid Vienna stands in the master group a pioneering week, where a good start is crucial. Coach Robert Klauss emphasizes the importance of every single game, but relativizes the pressure on the start, while his team is looking for a way to regain the confidence of the fans and to master the current challenges.