Rapid relies on learning effect after February derby scandal

The 342nd Vienna football derby was one that will leave deep traces for a long time to come. After Green-White celebrated their first home victory against Austria at the Allianz Stadium on 25 February with a 3-0 win, homophobic chants of some Rapid players caused a scandal. Afterwards, a reflection process began in the club. “Everyone can be sure,” said coach Robert Klauss before the rematch on Sunday, “we are very sensitized from the last game”.

It was not supporting actors who verbally derailed during the celebrations with fans after the derby triumph in winter, but faces of the club in public: Captain Guido Burgstaller about, top scorer Marco Grull goalkeeper Niklas Hedl, Experienced Maximilian Hofmann Co-Trainer Stefan Kulovits and especially managing directors Steffen Hofmann regardless of his current title, is the integration figure for the Green-Whites par excellence.

For their participation in the deep insults of the local rival, the protagonists received varying degrees of punishment Lock out The Bundesliga Criminal Senate also pronounced a Points deduction and imposed a Fine in the amount of 170,000 euros. The unconditional deduction of two points, which would have come into effect at the start of the new season, was lifted at the beginning of July, but there is still a conditional deduction of one point – so the club is still on probation.

Against this background, the club wants to avoid further negative headlines of this kind. Coach Klauß has explained the events of February 25th in preparation for the derby against Austria on Sunday (5 p.m.) “not at all” addressed. The players have been trained and sensitized since spring as part of a catalogue of measures against discrimination. “We have Workshops we have taken a lot of measures, we have reflected a lot in the club, we have had a lot of discussions,” explained the coach. “I think that this has a very important and good learning effect “The fans are being appealed to for common sense, stressed sports director Markus Katzer.

Leading the development of the ten-point plan, which also includes a Study on dealing with homophobia in the stadium, was Rapid Vice President and former WU Rector Edeltraut Hanappi-Egger, who is an expert in the field of gender and diversity in organizations. Since Hanappi-Egger is a visiting professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business this calendar year, the daughter-in-law of Rapid legend Gerhard Hanappi but do not contribute to the desired extent.

Elisabeth Overbeeke will be focusing more on this topic in the future. The Viennese native was appointed to the newly created staff position for diversity management and sustainability at the beginning of September. According to the club’s statement, Overbeeke will be the “first point of contact for all diversity matters”. She will also represent the club “in the committees dealing with the topic, cooperate with diversity officers from sponsors and partner institutions and promote exchanges with national and international scientific sports networks on the topics Diversity and sustainability maintain”.