On Monday, it will be exactly one year since FC Bayern last played a home match in front of fans at the Allianz Arena. Since then, coronavirus has prevented spectators from attending. Normally the stadium would be rocking for a game such as this Saturday’s Klassiker showdown against Borussia Dortmund! Really, Bayern have had everything they could’ve wished for over the last 12 months – great football and a historic six titles, the most there have ever been within one year. And yet one very important thing has been missing: the fans by the side of the players.
Hainer: ‘Dear fans, thank you for your loyalty’
Despite the difficult past months, Herbert Hainer is looking to the future with optimism: “We’ve had to play without fans at home for a year now. But we’re looking forward optimistically and hope that we’ll see each other at the stadium again soon, to enjoy, cheer and celebrate together,” said the club president. “Until that time, we just need patience because health must always come first. Dear fans, thank you for your loyalty! You are the soul of the club!”
Rummenigge: ‘We all miss the atmosphere in the stadium’
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “Football is emotion and passion – and our fans represent that. We all miss the atmosphere in the stadium,” said the chairman. “Everything at Bayern revolves around you, our fans. Despite the distance we’re close. We’ll see you!”
Kahn: ‘You’re always in our hearts’
‘See you soon’ is FC Bayern’s motto on this unique reference date, as the German record champions have never lost sight of their fans around the whole world, even during the past months – and we will definitely see each other again once the pandemic has passed. “Football isn’t the same without fans,” said board member Oliver Kahn. “This pandemic is asking a lot of every individual in society. We want to thank every member of the FC Bayern family. You’re always in our hearts!”
Salihamidžić: ‘We’ve achieved something historic’
Despite being apart, the club and its supporters have had much cause for celebration over the last year, and that joy in football has constantly ensure that the FC Bayern family has stuck together during this pandemic. “The fact we’ve not been able to celebrate any of our titles in recent months with our fans is just sad,” commented board member for sport Hasan Salihamidžić. “We achieved something historic for FC Bayern, but every moment of happiness and pride during these coronavirus times has been accompanied by silence, by the absence of our fans. That’s why the desire to have spectators back in the stadiums is growing every week – starting with our fans, of course.”
In the last match with spectators at the Allianz Arena, the fans welcomed the team with a magnificent tifo for the club’s 120th birthday.
The memories of 8 March 2020, the last time the Allianz Arena could welcome spectators, remain vivid. It was a sunny day, and FC Bayern celebrated its 120th birthday in grand style. The 75,000 fans inside the sold-out Arena celebrated the proud anniversary with a spectacular tifo across the stands, while the players wore a special kit based on the team’s first shirt from 1932. FCB looked very good on and off the pitch, and fittingly won 2-0 against Augsburg thanks to goals from Thomas Müller and Leo Goretzka. Ahead of the game, the German record champions also launched their “Reds Against Racism” campaign, which fitted into the overall picture of success which now has a special place in hearts and minds. These shared memories help to bridge the wait until we’re reunited.
The FCB players also had some words for the fans:
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