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A coalition of Borussia Dortmund fan groups, which stand on the "iconic south terrace" at the team's home stadium, said that they "plan to boycott their club’s first Bundesliga game held on a Monday," according to the AFP. For the first time, the German Football League (DFL) "is experimenting with five Monday night games this season in the Bundesliga." The club will host Augsburg in the second planned Monday match on Feb. 26 and its fans "are opposing the initiative." The Bündnis Südtribüne Dortmund said in a statement, "This decision is in no way directed against the team, but we can not -- and will not -- accept Bundesliga matches on Mondays!" Bundesliga matchdays are currently restricted to Friday, Saturday and Sunday kickoffs, "with the occasional round of mid-week matches." The statement added, "When matches take place on dates when nobody actually has time to go to the stadium, that reveals the dreadful indifference to the social importance of football and the fans who make the sport what it is" (
AFP, 1/12). DEUTSCHE WELLE reported according to the DFL, "the new Monday night slot is to give Europa League teams an extra day of rest." The BSD includes 2,261 individual members and 38 fan clubs, "including the three main vocal ultra groups who are responsible for the breathtaking atmosphere and choreographies on the famous Yellow Wall." With other, non-affiliated fan groups "joining the boycott and other fans simply unable to attend a match on a Monday night," insiders believe up to 10,000 fans "could miss the game" (
DW, 1/13).
