A bomb threat which forced Germany’s international friendly against the Netherlands to be canceled on Tuesday is likely to have an impact on security at Bundesliga grounds, German Football Association president Reinhard Rauball said.
“My impression is that football in Germany has taken a different turn in many facets,” Rauball said. “This is a sad day for German football.”
German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere took the decision to call off the friendly, based on a “concrete threat,” two hours before kickoff in Hannover, Germany.
Photo: Reuters
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was rushed back to Berlin and thousands of fans had to be evacuated from the stadium.
Both the Germany and Netherlands team buses were turned back as they were five minutes from the stadium when the game was called off.
Despite a thorough search, no explosives were found at the HDI-Arena.
Germany on Friday last week spent the night in the Stade de France as their international friendly took place during scenes of violence across Paris.
“The fact that our team has had to experience such tragic events within four days is beyond my imagination,” Rauball said.
Royal Dutch Football Association director Bert van Oostveen said: “It is very sad for our society, after ... Paris and previous terrorist attacks, to need to be so alarmed as they were today. Our players and our team need to process the events of this evening.”
“We are sad and full of sorrow... We wanted to make a gesture. We wanted to play football, despite what has happened in Paris, but when the authorities can no longer guarantee safety, then you have to call a halt. Then you no longer have a choice,” Van Oostveen added.
Rauball said that, in the wake of Friday’s jihadist attacks, which claimed at least 129 lives, the Hannover bomb threat would have repercussions at top-flight grounds across Germany.
Security is set to be a key factor at soccer grounds around the nation, with a full program of nine matches set to take place over this weekend.
In Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Saturday, Schalke 04 are scheduled to host star-studded Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich at their 78,996 capacity Veltins-Arena.
However, De Maiziere said Germany is not prepared to live in fear of a terrorist threat.
“We want to go to the stadium, visit Christmas markets and attend public celebrations, and that is what we will still do,” he said.
Rauball said the Germany team were rushed back to their team hotel under police escort once the game was called off.
The team was dispersed with Bayern players being flown directly to Munich, Germany, while the rest of the squad, who lived closer by, were bused home with friends and family.
“I rang [Germany team manager] Oliver Bierhoff on the team bus as soon as the decision was taken to call the game off. The bus was 5km from the stadium,” Rauball said.
“I have a lot of respect for the decision. I know how hard it was to make and protecting people has to take the highest priority,” he added.
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