Borussia Dortmund fans to boycott Red Bull Leipzig match
Supporters’ groups say they won’t travel to support their side against a team they consider to stand “against everything we associate with football.”
Borussia Dortmund take on Red Bull Leipzig tomorrow afternoon (18.30 CET) in the second round of games of the new Bundesliga season but will do so without the support of many of their fans who have decided to boycott the game.
Dortmund fans to boycott visit to Leipzig
Newly-promoted Leipzig have caused controversy in Germany due to their ownership model. The club, which played in the fifth tier as recently as 2009, is owned by Austrian drinks giant Red Bull and its rise through the divisions has been funded by a cash injection of over €100 million. The company has made similar investments across the world; New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg are just a couple of sides from the brand’s ‘club portfolio.’
Fans are critical of the club's business model, which has gifted it the title of Germany's 'most-hated club,' and many Dortmund supporters have decided to not travel to the game in protest.
'Germany's most hated club'
A statement read: “The construct of the newly promoted side from Leipzig stands against everything that we associate with football. It is scandalous that a purely commercial marketing branch of an Austrian drinks manufacturer may actually compete in Germany's top flight. This contradicts all sporting and emotional values. For us, the consequence is clear: we do not buy tickets and do not travel to BVB's away game in Leipzig.”
