2. League: Topduo wants to sue the promotion if necessary

The former Munich player from 1860, therefore, will declare himself Friday at the club conference for a continuation of the championship by means of “ghost games”. “But only if it is possible for all the clubs in this league to survive economically. If that were not the case, of course, we are also in favor of a demolition. “

CoV testing is not accessible to everyone

Klagenfurt’s application is likely to fail due to a funding problem. Without the proceeds from the audience, the corona virus tests necessary for many second-division clubs cannot be funded. With the exception of the Cup finalist, Austria Lustenau, second division clubs are currently unable to train in accordance with Ministry regulations. While the top league wants to continue playing mainly due to television revenue, one of the following leagues does not apply.

The Bundesliga provides financial support from four boats: each club receives a base amount of EUR 50,000; the use of young domestic players is rewarded from the Austrian pot; Clubs that purchase a professional license but do not manage the promotion will receive a license bonus of up to EUR 250,000; and finally the sponsor Hpybet payments still flow. However, according to the league, you cannot earn more than an average of 400,000 euros in total.

Several clubs call for demolition

Kapfenberg boss Erwin Fuchs spoke at the end. “With the current situation of the Bundesliga teams, it would be wiser to stop. We never budget for such tests, for example, ”the former Bundesliga vice president told Kronen Zeitung. Lafnitz manager Matthias Dielacher is also skeptical: “Such an amount of testing is not affordable for a second division club.”

If, contrary to expectations, the season continues with “ghost games,” Blau-Weiß-Linz managing director Stefan Reiter sees black. “So about 80 percent of the 16 clubs will no longer exist in the summer because they are bankrupt,” the former Ried coach told the “Oberösterreichische Nachrichten.” After two months of playing and six home games without spectators, the Linz team would have at least 272,000 euros to reserve, so Reiter. “Only short-term work saves us. This would be canceled with the training of the first team. “

The main sponsor expects to be canceled

Main sponsor Hpybet also expects the season to be canceled. “I suppose the second league is not over, and it would also make sense to abandon it,” CEO Andreas Köberl said in an APA interview, who brought ethical and commercial reasons to the meeting.

The company intends to honor its sponsorship agreements, but they are discussing to adjust the contracts. “Because nothing works, we have little pressure that we still have to pay sponsorship amounts. We have already been part of that, and that will not be asked again. We have now suspended the invoices for April and May, ”said Köberl.

Bundesliga and second division with 14 clubs each?

In either case, the pendulum in the second league swings towards the premature end. That would have to be decided by the ÖFB Presidium. Rieder’s opinion on how to proceed would be predetermined: “I am convinced that, due to regulations, even if the championship is abandoned, a legally sustainable solution will only be possible if you advance to the top league,” said Executive Committee member Robert Tremel.

Klagenfurt’s Imhof sees two scenarios: “We used the evaluation from the first half of the season. At this point, everyone was playing against everyone once. Or Ried and we climbed. ” Austria as autumn champions would benefit in both cases. “With 14 clubs, the season could be played with a normal round of 26 games. This would have the advantage that a later start is possible and it will not be as tight for the summer with the European Championship, “Imhof said and campaigned for the increase.

“They both deserved it”

Then, however, two other clubs would also eat the television cake. With an accompanying mode change, according to league board member Christian Ebenbauer, contractual obligations must also be met. “Especially when you think about media rights.”

Imhof: “Questions like this, if the two promoters get less money from television, they will surely be solved. Ried has been a top division club for many years. We also did our homework in such a way that we are a very serious association. We both deserve to be promoted this season. ” Hamburg investor Tomislav Karajica joined Austria in February 2019 and took over the club with all its responsibilities.