Also at Hannover 96 you have to say: Thank you, Eintracht Braunschweig!
On Monday, the third division clubs Braunschweig, Osnabrück and Meppen submitted an “urgent standard control application” to the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Lüneburg against the fan ban in Lower Saxony (only 500 spectators). And the 14th Senate of the Higher Administrative Court actually “temporarily suspended” the restrictions.
Court overturns fan ban.
The limit is “inappropriate”, according to the OVG press release: “The determination of an absolute upper limit of 500 people is at least for very large open-air venues, such as football stadiums or open-air stages, with a wide range of possibilities for the participants Arranging distance and hygiene regulations, including the obligation to wear masks, is no longer appropriate.”
The “suspension of the absolute upper limit for open-air events” does not only apply to the three applicants, but is “generally binding throughout Lower Saxony”. The decision also applies to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg (against Hoffenheim on February 19) and Hannover 96, who did not take part in the lawsuit.
For 96, this is particularly good news. So far, the Reds have assumed that Sunday (1.30 p.m.) against Darmstadt only 500 VIPs will come to the arena. Now they are allowed to let 5,000 spectators in – the approval for this was given in the afternoon by the health department of the Hanover region.
Sports director Marcus Mann (37): “That’s great news. We are happy about every spectator who is allowed into our arena.”
Ticket sales have started (online only). Due to the short notice, members and season ticket holders for the 2019/20 season have no right of first refusal this time.
10,000 spectators are allowed in almost everywhere nationwide. Why did 96 only apply for 5000?
For diplomatic reasons! The OVG pointed out that due to the infection process it was “not yet mandatory” to allow 10,000 spectators at major events. In the preliminary talks, the health department sent signals to quickly approve 5000 – but no more. In addition, it would have been questionable whether the Reds would have sold 10,000 tickets in just 48 hours.
