The Freiburg fans wrote: "Owners protected and wooed. In nearly every German stadium, fan groups protested against Hopp, the DFB and Bayern. For the second straight day, a Bundesliga match was stopped due to fan protests against Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp and the German soccer federation.. Some suggestions revealed that the Euro 2020 may be pushed back by a year. Last Friday, a network of fans, mostly ultra groups, published an open letter. By Ron Ulrich BBC Sport. The story of an owner pushing his childhood club to the top might sound like a fairytale. So when word spread that more fan groups would protest against Hopp the next weekend, the DFB decided to apply the three-step-protocol originally set up by Uefa to combat racial abuse. Speaking to Sport1, Hopp said: “That depends on the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (the german institute for vaccines). Now, he believes that the company is close to a breakthrough. This week, the stadiums are indeed empty but not because of sanctions or boycotts but because of the coronavirus outbreak. SAP will also sponsor the future home of Bayern Munich's basketball team. He is of the opinion that the Champions League may benefit in the long run. All Dortmund fans were banned from the next two matches at Hoffenheim. It has to be tested first with animals and then with human beings. Step three would see the match abandoned. It was a trivialisation of the shocking events in Hanau, but it set the tone for what was to follow during the next week, and it led to strong decisions at the DFB. One possible conclusion to draw for now is that there is no alternative to dialogue, as Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said. When midfielder Mesut Ozil was the target of racist comments from far right politicians during the World Cup 2018, the DFB admitted, These cases led to the suspicion that German football does more to protect multi-millionaires than it does minorities, or players with a migrant background. But I think it could be available in autumn at the time when possibly the next wave of infections will come.”. And how could they be expected to track action in the stands while simultaneously officiating a busy football match? Or do you believe they are guilty of hypocrisy? The atmosphere of double standards is fostered by the long-term "co-innovation partnership"external-link between Hopp's company SAP and the DFB. Gladbach officials criticised their ultras and apologised to Hopp. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. From the section European Football. ", Ron Ulrichexternal-link is a writer at German football magazine 11 Freunde.external-link, A fascinating and revealing look into his career. From the beginning, ultra groups have considered Hopp a symbol for the commercialisation of the game. Rummenigge spoke. As a parting thought, he said, “This tournament [Euro 2020] has to be cancelled, it could be played next year. Or do they have too much power? According to him, human trials have been green lit for the coming months. But what infuriated supporters in Germany most of all was the lack of action over racist insults. Secondly, after the Hoffenheim-Bayern game, several officials and TV experts demanded fan organisations be thrown out of the stadiums. That tournament (the Club World Cup) is not advisable anyway.”, Hoffenheim Owner Dietmar Hopp Claims that a Coronavirus Vaccine is in Development, Tokyo 2020 Olympics Boxing Qualifiers to be held despite Coronavirus Outbreak. Now there was a new factor in fans' opposition to Hopp, the starting point for a new wave of criticism focused on him. So when the Rheinderby between Cologne and Monchengladbach or the Revierderby between Schalke and Dortmund are played in front of empty seats, the atmosphere will give an impression of what ultra groups keep saying and what legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein once put this way: "Football without fans is nothing. Club members are supposed to at least own more than half the shares - 50% of the deciding votes, plus one more. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. During the game in the third division between Meppen and Duisburg one series of banners read: "If Dietmar has enough cash, for his protection and interest, people whose words are meaningless will lock someone up again.". Coming to the football action, all league have been suspended due to the coronavirus. Several officials from top-flight sides, such as Mainz or Dortmund, have shared similar opinions in interviews. While Bayern fans insulting Hopp had led to an interruption there, nothing happened when Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was insulted with the same phrase by Schalke supporters. In Cologne, Berlin, Dortmund and elsewhere in lower divisions, matches were stopped when the referees noticed banners in the stands. Namely, how to move forward with the current season for the various leagues. In February this year, they raised the same banner as Dortmund ultras had, with Hopp in the crosshairs.