After videos of assistant coach Stefan Kulovits and several players appeared on the Internet on Monday evening in which they, among other things, chanted homophobic chants as part of the derby celebrations, the Bundesliga filed a complaint against the players and the club on Tuesday. He condemned the events “in the strongest terms.”
Before that, moving images of managing director Steffen Hofmann made the rounds on Monday, in which he dealt heartily against the city rivals Vienna Austria. Now Green-White felt compelled to go public once again. “The presidium of SK Rapid strongly condemns the recent homophobic statements (…),” said a statement from the Vienna club.
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On Tuesday, the Bundesliga also became active and filed a complaint with the league’s Senate 1 (penalty and certification committee) against the club, Hofmann, Kulovits and the players Guido Burgstaller, Marco Grüll, Thorsten Schick, Maximilian Hofmann and Niklas Hedl. “The content of the videos is in no way consistent with the values that football as a whole and the Austrian Football Bundesliga in particular stand for. The role model effect of footballers, coaches and officials goes beyond what happens on the green grass,” said the league their justification.
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The comment period for Rapid is one week. According to the league, player or functional bans are conceivable; in the worst case, the club could face a points deduction. In a similar incident in France’s Ligue 1 in October 2023, conditional bans were imposed on Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani, Achraf Hakimi and Layvin Kurzawa.
The club and players apologized
The club and players apologized to the public. “We as players have a certain role model function, and we by no means lived up to that in this situation. I can only sincerely apologize for that and assure you that we will bear the full consequences,” wrote Grüll on Instagram. The offensive player has also made it into the German media, as he is moving to Werder Bremen in the summer.
Like Grüll, Kulovits and Goalgetter Burgstaller also apologized via rapid broadcast. “The fan chant we are reproducing is in complete contradiction to our values as a club and to my personal values, which I have exemplified in more than two decades in professional football and would like to continue to exemplify,” explained Kulovits. In the emotion after the success over Vienna Austria, “a big mistake” happened.
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“In this way, we would also like to clearly distance ourselves from any discrimination and homophobia and apologize to everyone who we have directly or indirectly offended through our behavior,” emphasized Burgstaller. “We are aware that we have a role model effect, and unfortunately we did not live up to this role at all with our actions after the game.”
Clear words from ÖFB President Klaus Mitterdorfer
Club President Alexander Wrabetz and Vice President Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger also made clear statements. “The denigration of people based on different characteristics or lifestyles should have no place at Rapid.” As a “green-white community” we want to “make a contribution to more diversity and inclusion. Respect and appreciation for diversity are the cornerstones of our club and we expect everyone who works at Rapid and feels connected to our club to do so too “We are committed to our values. We would also like to apologize as the executive board for the misconduct documented on videos and will continue to work through this matter internally.”
ÖFB President Klaus Mitterdorfer also found clear words. “This behavior is incompatible with the values of football and fair play. Despite all the sporting rivalry and emotions, the statements are unacceptable and completely inappropriate. Clubs, club officials and players also have a great role model function for countless football-loving children and young people. This goes hand in hand also a special responsibility,” Mitterdorfer was quoted as saying in an association release. The ÖFB reserves the right to take further steps until the matter has been fully clarified, the statement said.
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