Before the 344th Vienna Derby between Rapid and Austria, emphasis is placed on a harmonious appearance. For the first time in years, there are joint press appointments before the game on Sunday. In the town hall, as a neutral location, coaches Helm and Klauß, as well as Zagiczek and Hofmann from the management level, are expected. Both clubs have advanced the investigation of last year's scandal.

23 Stadium Bans Imposed After Riot at Vienna Football Derby

Rapid's 2:1 home victory was overshadowed by serious riots after the final whistle. Fans stormed the field, leading to wild scenes, ten injured police officers, and no fewer than 577 charges - over 400 of which were against unknown perpetrators, mostly due to pyrotechnic offenses. The investigation was difficult due to the many masked rioters. The number of identified rioters is therefore manageable.

As of the latest status, there are currently 23 stadium bans imposed by the Bundesliga after the riots at the most recent derby. Austria applied for 18 of these, while Rapid identified five individuals who were clearly identified by the club or the police, according to club information. In comparison, Austria now has a total of 26 house or stadium bans, while Rapid currently has nine in total.

What the incidents after the 343rd derby edition caused: The major Vienna clubs quickly showed insight, and no blame was assigned. Rapid and Austria were each fined 150,000 euros due to the riots. The relatively mild verdict could be explained by the fact that the city rivals quickly agreed that the next four derbies would take place without away fans. The first of these will be hosted by Austria on Sunday (5:00 PM). The Violets announced a sold-out venue with over 15,000 visitors on Tuesday.

Vienna Football Derbies Without Guest Fans Last Held Ten Years Ago

The away sector will not remain empty: Austria has invited 23 charitable and social organizations to attend the derby for free. Appearing with Rapid fan articles is prohibited and will be strictly controlled. As Austria emphasized, the commercial resale of tickets is also prohibited. Derbies without guest fans have already occurred, most recently nearly ten years ago. In spring 2015, Austria and Rapid each held a match without opposing supporters by order of the league. This sanction was also preceded by a derby with serious riots in the stands.

For the police, the derby on Sunday could be one of the quieter encounters between Austria and Rapid. Although planning by the executive is not yet complete, they assured that "sufficient police officers with both civilian and uniformed forces will be deployed." There will be short-term traffic restrictions in the stadium area. Visitors to the game were advised to "arrive on time and use public transport." In Hütteldorf, there is expected to be a public viewing, although the club could not confirm this initially.

(APA/Red)

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