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As of Monday, only 1,000 fans will be allowed in the stadiums in Bern. What that means for the Young Boys, FC Thun, SC Bern, EHC Biel and SCL Tigers.
On October 1, SC Bern played in front of 6750 fans at home, so it will end on Monday for now.
Photo: Urs Lindt (freshfocus)
The SCL Tigers see tough times ahead of the club, especially financially.
Photo: Claudio de Capitani (freshfocus)
For the director of the ice hockey league, Denis Vaucher, the decision of the cantonal government of Bern came out of nowhere.
Photo: Claudio de Capitani (freshfocus)
Rising crown numbers wherever you look. On Friday, the BAG reported 3,105 cases in 24 hours, the day before there had been 2,613 new infections with the corona virus. The increase in infections was and is worrying. So much so that on Sunday the Federal Council approved new measures, including an expanded requirement to wear a mask indoors accessible to the public and a ban on spontaneous gatherings of more than 15 people.
The canton of Bern took even more rigorous measures on Sunday afternoon. Because the number of cases has doubled in a week and the number of hospitalized patients has risen sharply, the cantonal government has decided to ban major events with more than 1000 people from Monday. Sports clubs in the region are also affected: Young Boys, SC Bern, EHC Biel and SCL Tigers.
YB fans greet the players at the match against FC Vaduz at Wankdorf in Bern.
Photo: Peter Schneider (Keystone)
While YB recently had 11,660 spectators in Wankdorf against Vaduz, ice hockey clubs were allowed to use two-thirds of their stadiums in accordance with the league’s protection concept, as long as all seats were seats. In the home of the SCB, the standing ramp was specially converted to fit Corona. Even league president Denis Vaucher can’t understand the return to the 1000 rule.
“Unexpectedly”
“I do not understand the progress of the Berne authorities; there is not a single case of crown proven in a stadium. “The league was also surprised by the decision.” The decision of the canton of Bern has a bit of a grudge against us. on Thursday and Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga on Sunday that our protection concepts were good. “
As a club directly affected, the SCL Tigres realized that going for the cantonal government alone could not be a solution. This is a fake quick shot. In a national league you can’t solve such a thing at the federal level, “says Chairman of the Board of Directors Peter Jakob. The future is uncertain, especially financially.” Now we can offer much less to subscribers and sponsors. the risk increases significantly that money back will be claimed. ” You now have “absolutely no planning security” again.
Big concerns at Tigers and SCB
The Tigers have their next home game on Tuesday in two days. “Who can come, who should stay home, even if they have already received a confirmation for this game against Rapperswil?” There will be a big problem, especially since Jakob doesn’t see a quick improvement. “This decision will not be overturned anytime soon, so it is doubly bitter, doubly frustrating. The concerns are great. “
While EHC Biel only reported on the decision and its importance to the club on Monday, the SCB clearly did so on Sunday night. “The implementation of games with less than 1000 spectators is threatening the existence of the SCB in the medium term,” he says in a press release. Like the league and the Tigers, the Bernese were surprised by the decision. The cantonal government’s decision is criticized for lacking clear reasons. “Sports clubs have invested a lot in their protection concepts, at SCB this exceeds 500,000 CHF. The protection concepts of sports clubs testify that, firstly, they have been very well planned and, secondly, they have been implemented very well so far. Since it can be proven that there are no known Covid cases that are related to the association, the decision is considered to be disproportionate.
Repentance at FC Thun
The Young Boys see the existence of professional football at risk if the clubs are unable to welcome spectators back to stadiums for a longer period of time. In recent weeks, YB has been in close contact with the authorities and the decision was made with the left foot, a few days before the two home games on Thursday in the Europa League against AS Roma and on Sunday in the Super League against Lucerne. In a statement, the champion advocates “maintaining moderation and recognizing the great effort made by Swiss professional clubs, especially when developing the concept of protection that should allow the holding of the games.”
Meanwhile, FC Thun is examining “what steps should be taken regarding the stadium protection concept to implement the new requirements and how the newly defined visitor limit on Tuesday can be met.” In a statement, the Bernese Oberland football club expresses its regret over the decision, but at the same time ensures that all requirements will, of course, be met as necessary.
“Sport is not a driver”
Swiss Olympic also states that protection concepts have been implemented so far as required. The Swiss sports umbrella organization, which was involved in the development of the concepts, writes: “The protection concepts and measures were positively evaluated by various bodies and institutions. Sport is not the engine of negative development. “Rather, sport can and wants to be a role model of how society can learn to cope with the virus. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible in the canton of Bern with the new conditions.
Collaboration: Adrian Ruch, Philipp Rindlisbacher
