- Ultras criticize DFL Supercup as a "sweat cup"
The DFL Supercup between double-winners Bayer Leverkusen and runners-up VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening (6:00 PM, BayArena) will see many fans boycotting the event. The active fan scenes of both clubs have announced they will not support their teams this time. The reason given is that the game, organized by the German Football League (DFL), is purely a commercial event with no sporting significance.
"The DFL Supercup has no sporting appeal for us as a competition and therefore no relevance that would justify an organized appearance," wrote the Stuttgart ultra groups on their website. And the Leverkusen fan scene stated: "Carnival Cup instead of Pokal weekend - not with us!"
This weekend also marks the start of the first round of the DFB Pokal, to which the Supercup participants, Leverkusen and Stuttgart, will only join later. The Swabians now have to travel to second-division side Preußen Münster on a Tuesday evening (8:45 PM) at the end of August, and Leverkusen to FC Carl Zeiss Jena on Wednesday evening (6:00 PM).
"The fans' decision to boycott the DFL Supercup is in response to the Commission's planned implementing acts, as they view this Regulation as further commercialization of football events."
"Despite the controversy, the Commission continues its plan to adopt acts regulating the application of this Regulation, potentially influencing future fan behavior in similar commercial events."
