“We do not want to capitulate to the virus”

After the latest developments around rising crown numbers, the continuation of the National League season is on the brink. The presidents of the National League clubs are now addressing the Federal Council in an open letter.

Only in early October, the continuation of the season of the top Swiss ice hockey league is already in jeopardy after the increasing number of corona cases. Entire teams are in quarantine, various clubs have to completely renounce spectators in the stadium again. Before new measures can aggravate the precarious situation on Wednesday, the twelve presidents of the National League clubs will now speak together.

In an open letter to the Federal Council, the cantonal governments and the Swiss media, they make it clear that everything possible will be done to continue the season that has begun. “Football and ice hockey are of immense importance in our country, socially, economically and healthily. Therefore, it is crucial that the sport is practiced even in times of crisis: for the team, for the youth, for the fans, for the employees, for the partners and for the entire population. We must not let the Covid-19 virus dictate our life and prohibit it, “he says in the letter.

Useless efforts in preparation for the season?

According to club presidents, fans should continue to have access to stadiums, for a number of reasons. On the one hand, all the clubs have developed protection concepts, “which have been valued as exemplary and have passed their practical test.” In addition, they were also willing to give up spectator capacity and make pay cuts, in some cases for all employees. At the same time, fans have reportedly waived ticket refunds.

Now those big efforts threaten to lose value due to the new restrictions. “The financial foundation on which we built has been taken from us. That is unfair because we have aligned ourselves with him and Parliament has aligned its planned liquidity support with him. That is disproportionate because our concepts of work and social life have to continue even with Corona, ”the letter says.

“Let our players play hockey!”

The conclusion is for the clubs: “With these measures and with our protection concepts, we want and could continue playing hockey in front of a maximum of 2/3 of our usual audience. Because we don’t want to capitulate to a virus, neither as clubs nor as individuals. “

The unmistakable appeal to the Federal Council and the cantonal governments: “Let our players play hockey! If you are not allowed to do this in front of people with emotions, because you have forbidden it, then reward us and speak à fonds lost contributions for the additional losses imposed. Make sure that Swiss hockey is not a victim of the corona virus and that we can play the season to the end. For the fans, for sports, for the health of our country ”.