2023-04-19 19:19:27
After a choreography by the fans of Borussia Dortmund under the motto “Forever Westfalenstadion”, a sponsor of the club expressed clear criticism.
“For me, that’s unacceptable, considering how much we’ve supported this club for a long time and also stood by it when others didn’t want to give a cent more,” said CEO Ulrich Leitermann of the insurance group Signal Iduna the “Ruhr Nachrichten”.
Dortmund Stadium was renamed Signal Iduna Park in 2005, previously it was called Westfalenstadion. Before the game against 1. FC Union Berlin almost two weeks ago, the fans of the Bundesliga soccer club presented a big choreography entitled “Forever Westfalenstadion” in the south stand. “It was just a nuisance for us,” said Leitermann. He hopes for more acceptance from the entire fan scene. “I wish for an appreciative approach that takes both interests into account,” said the company boss.
fans react
BVB fans reacted to the statements on social networks with incomprehension and malice. Leiterman said he knew only a portion of the fans were behind the action. He was particularly annoyed by the media impact. It was a “violent setback”, “because this representation also creates images in people’s minds”.
The fan culture researcher Harald Lange now sees a tense situation. “By making his anger public, he first made it an issue,” said the head of the sports science institute at the University of Würzburg of the “Rheinische Post”: “This is now a symbolic power struggle, he should take wise steps superior to the fans.” (dpa)
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