Before the decisive Europa League game to get into the knockout stages, Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer regretted the absence of his own fans. “It’s not nice. Our fans are part of the whole, but we also have some responsibility for it ourselves. It is therefore important to accept this decision. It certainly doesn’t help us,” said the Swiss on Wednesday before the Game at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday evening (9 p.m. / RTL). Full-back Julian Ryerson also agreed: “Our fans always help us, push us, give us energy. But it is how it is. We have to behave accordingly. We’ll manage that well.”
However, the 56-year-old fisherman also criticized: “If a few don’t follow the rules, it doesn’t mean that everyone does it badly. I just think it’s a shame if a few chaotic people manage to do it all at the end must suffer.”
In Leuven, where Saint-Gilloise has to play his European Cup games, the Berliners have to do without their fans in the stadium. Due to various failures of parts of the attachment in previous games, the Berliners were not allowed to award away tickets. In addition, the city imposed an entry ban for Union fans and threatened arrests.
Union, together with three supporters, filed a lawsuit against this ban, which is to be decided on Thursday, as the club announced on Wednesday evening. “In our view, however, the decree of the mayor of Leuven is absolutely disproportionate. It overrides fundamental rights and is contrary to both the European idea and the idea of UEFA to hold competitions across national borders,” said Union President Dirk Zingler in a statement according to
Union needs a win to progress safely to the next round. If they draw or lose, Sporting Braga are unlikely to win against Malmö FF. Otherwise, the Iron would continue to play in the Conference League next year. In terms of personnel, Fischer has no problems: all the players are fit.
Twitter Union Berlin website Union Berlin match info at uefa.com website Saint-Gilloise Union statement on the lawsuit
