Five players suspended from league
Rapid is facing drastic punishments after the homophobia scandal
March 5, 2024, 11:56 a.m
For the first time since 2019, Rapid can win the Vienna derby against Austria in the Austrian Bundesliga at the end of February. In their joy, players and officials forget everything. There are drastic penalties for the team around the ex-Schalke player, and a point deduction is not yet off the table.
After the offensive and homophobic statements following the city derby against Austria Vienna, extensive penalties were imposed against Rapid Vienna and the players involved around ex-Schalke player Guido Burgstaller. Accordingly, Rapid receives a deduction of three points. However, the sentence is suspended until 2026. The league announced this.
The club announced that it would protest against the suspensions. “Since the apologies of the actors involved and the catalog of measures following the events in the derby were recognized by the Senate, we will protest against the unconditional bans,” said President Alexander Wrabetz at a press conference. Against this background, the club feels excessively punished.
The example of Paris Saint-Germain
The 63-year-old compared the situation with a similar incident at Paris St. Germain in September 2023. At that time, a quartet from the French champions around former Bundesliga professionals Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi and Randal Kolo Muani were only given a one-game ban after homophobic chants Probation has been granted.
“The Austrian Football Bundesliga is committed to the fight against discrimination of all kinds,” it said in a statement. “The content of the videos is in no way consistent with the values that football as a whole and the Bundesliga in particular stand for. Both SK Rapid and the players have credibly stated that they are very sorry for the events,” it continued.
Senate 1 of the Austrian Bundesliga also imposed bans on several players and officials. Managing director Steffen Hofmann received a two-month suspension, and assistant coach Stefan Kulovits even had to stay away from the game for three months. One month of each is suspended.
Five players are suspended
Five days before the decisive game at Austria Klagenfurt on the last day of the main round, Rapid also has to do without five players involved. Burgstaller and Marco Grüll, who moved to Werder Bremen in the summer, were banned for three games for discrimination, while Thorsten Schick has to watch two games. There will be three more games on probation until 2026.
Central defender Maximilian Hofmann and goalkeeper Niklas Hedl were each banned from one game and suspended from another for violating the spirit of fair play. All actors involved must also take part in three workshops in schools on the topic of discrimination within a year.
Rapid defeated city rivals Austria on February 25th for the first time since 2019 (3-0). Afterwards, coach Robert Klauß’s team celebrated extensively in front of the home fans – and made several mistakes, as documented by numerous video recordings. Among other things, managing director Hofmann insulted the guests over a megaphone, and Burgstaller’s team sang homophobic chants.