RB Leipzig: The Most Hated Team in Germany

RB Leipzig's rise to the top has been met with great resistance in Germany.

Football hooliganism is nothing new in Germany but in the 21^st Century it is certainly rare. That’s why when violence broke out before a Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig it was something different and quite shocking.

Stones and bottles were thrown at RB Leipzig fans and hate banners displayed by Borussia Dortmund supporters.

RB Leipzig are challenging for a Champions League place in their first ever season in the Bundesliga and are 6 points clear in 2^nd only 4 points behind Bayern Munich.  The hatred is because of the way they are owned by one company, Red Bull.

A wall of hatred was on view: "Slaughter the bulls", "Red Bull, enemy of football" were some of the slogans used at the weekend. Families came under attack, and six fans and four police were hurt. One top football official Max Eberl said the violence was sick: "Whether you like RB Leipzig or not, it shouldn't get out of hand."

After the incident with RB Leipzig Dortmund were fined £85,000 for the crowd troubles the previous week.

 

WHY THE HATRED?

Selling drinks is the core business of RB's owner, Red Bull, and there have been plenty more insults since the company bought a team in the Leipzig suburbs in 2009 and oversaw four promotions in seven seasons. And at the bottom tier of German football is just where many Bundesliga clubs think is where Leipzig should stay. They argument? RB Leipzig is just another way to fund red bull.

One of the biggest haters is the chief executive at Borussia Dortmund, Hans-Joachim Watzke. "It's a club built to push up the revenues for Red Bull and nothing else," he says.

In Germany, there is the "50 + 1" rule, whereby the association or club has to have a controlling stake, commercial interests can't gain control which means the fans always own 51% of their clubs, it means super-rich owner such as those seen in the Premier League cannot occur in Germany.

There are two exceptions in German football, Wolfsburg is owned by Volkswagen and Bayer Leverkusen is owned by a chemical company. These clubs are an exception because they were founded as both clubs works sporting clubs for the workers at the factories. Generally however a club in Germany is a true club for the members.

MY OPINION

In my opinion I think it’s quite a good thing that someone new is challenging for the title so the big teams get a run for their money, it’s always exciting and something different kind of like a German version of Leicester City. Unlike Leicester however Leipzig have had far greater financial backing compared to their competitors and this is down to the money offered to them by Red Bull.  Other clubs may be jealous of Leipzig but it is more likely their objections are because the club exists mostly to promote Red Bull and their interests.

 

 

by Lucas Cameron