Therefore, Bayer 04, who have often spoken out in the past for a responsible but also optimistic approach to opening stadiums, has now released a statement by the managing directors Fernando Carro (chairman) and Rudi Völler (sporting):
"Bayer 04 Leverkusen sharply criticise the hesitant and inconsistent position of German politicians in relation to dealing with the issue of spectators in professional sport. According to the changing circumstances, we expect suitable treatment of sport and professional football in particular, which unfortunately have recently fallen victim to an unrealistic symbolic politics.
We remain great advocates – and also pioneers – of level-headed handling of the effects of the pandemic. However, it is now time to take responsible steps back to normality.
Other big leagues in Europe are showing how that can work. England now has almost no restrictions, stadiums in Spain are 75% open with an incidence rate of over 3,000, France will allow full capacity crowds from next week and Serie A will go up to 50% capacity at the start of February.
There is no verified evidence that even one match in the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 has been the source of significantly increased infection rates – also neither the venue nor the approaches to the stadium. Other cultural events in Germany are taking place at almost full capacity and mostly in enclosed spaces. A completely disproportionate state of affairs.
The voices of our fans get louder and louder, the urgent need for perspective and openness is clear and is not only seen in that way by the clubs affected. We therefore call on the North Rhine-Westphalia government to ensure appropriate and reliable conditions for fans in stadiums and to implement that as soon as possible. In the same way that it has already been set in motion by other federal states – and in the best case scenario in a unified manner across the whole country."
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show moreTo all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show moreThe Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show moreIt is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show moreWelcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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