Sometimes simplicity is the best approach, and that is the route that Eintracht chose during a Frankfurt protest on the scheduling of Monday matches this week.
Sure, the supporters could have brought in 100 flares, made several large banners and yelled their lungs out. Instead the Frankfurt faithful vacated a section of stands and placed a singular banner with one clear message: No Mondays.
#Eintracht #Frankfurt supporters leaving their standing terrace empty at home to 1. FC #Union #Berlin this evening in protest at Monday night football, which is set to be discontinued in the #Bundesliga as of 2021-22.
— Matt Ford (@matt_4d) February 24, 2020
On the surface level it looks like a protest organized by a Monday-hating orange tabby cat. In reality the Frankfurt supporters are voicing their — any many others' — displeasure with the scheduling of Bundesliga matches on Mondays.
These protests are nothing new in the Bundesliga.
Das Loch in der Mitte der #Ostkurve war nicht zu übersehen. Dort, wo sich sonst der harte Kern der #Werder-#Ultras versammelt, stand vor dem Anpfiff der Partie gegen den #effzeh niemand https://t.co/hmSDBl41j0#svwkoe pic.twitter.com/zCPLFtbFUF
— DeichStube (@DeichStube) March 12, 2018
Unlike Americans, Monday Night Football is not as popular of an idea as it is in Germany. The Bundesliga supporters have already won the war against Monday matches, which were introduced in the 2017-18 season. The German Football League (DFL) announced almost a year ago that the Monday plan will be terminated in 2021-22.
TV rights are the reason these games still exist. Yet, many other leagues (even the 2. Bundesliga) play on Mondays with little to no problems.
Frankfurt not only had a gaping hole in its supporter section, but it also lost Monday’s match to visiting Union Berlin, 2-1. It appeared Frankfurt’s defense has as much communication as the empty stands during Union’s first goal.
FRANKFURT 0-1 UNION BERLIN
49' Andersson (UNION)#Bundesliga #Frankfurt #Berlin #UnionBerlin #Bundes #football #soccer #futbol #goal #goals pic.twitter.com/X6z8472b8i— Footweets (@Footweetball) February 24, 2020
