Johannes Eggestein on St. Pauli protests: “Current politics are disturbing.” | OneFootball

Matters proceeded a little differently at the Millerntor stadium this weekend in a matchday 20 Bundesliga encounter between St. Pauli and Augsburg. Ordinarily, any home match for Hamburg’s “Kiezkicker” begins with AC/DC’s classic rock anthem “Hells Bells” ushering the team onto the pitch. Silence reigned as various political banners were unfurled around the stadium.

Both the team and its ultras took the opportunity to raise alarm at the rise of far-right politics ahead of scheduled Federal elections on February 23. With polls suggesting that the deeply divisive “Alternative für Deutschland” (AfD) standing a chance at being kingmaker, the historically leftist German footballing club wished to register its discontent. Alarm bells preceded a moment of silent solace.

The various banners made reference to Germany’s dark past. The team stood behind a black pennant reading “Kein vergeben, kein vergessen” (“no forgiveness, no forgetting”. A quote from Auschwitz survivor Esther Bejarano featured behind the team. A statement by the Jewish writer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, as well as quote from famous poet Paul Celan, were also used.

After a moment’s silence was observed, the sold-out Millerntor crowd all shouted out their opposition in unison to the AfD. After the match, head-coach Alexander Blessin and lead-striker Johannes Eggestein (both quoted by Kicker) had a chance to comment on the scenes.

“If ‘Hells Bells’ doesn’t ring out, then something serious must be going on,” Blessin said. “There was a very good reason for it.”

“What is currently happening politically is disturbing,” Eggestein added. “I think signals like those sent by our fans are very valuable and important.

“It personally bothers me a lot,” Eggestein continued. “which is why commend that such a clear stance was taken and a voice was raised.”

GGFN | Peter Weis