After the attack in Magdeburg
FC Bayern cancels Christmas show after Leipzig win
Updated 12/20/2024 – 11:42 p.mReading time: 2 min.
FC Bayern's win against RB Leipzig took a back seat on Friday evening. The reason: the attack in Magdeburg. The people of Munich canceled their planned Christmas show.
The 5-1 win against RB Leipzig at the end of the year should have been a reason for FC Bayern to be happy. The Munich team had planned a Christmas ceremony with their own supporters after the game. But board boss Jan-Christian Dreesen canceled the celebration shortly after the final whistle.
The 57-year-old spoke via microphone on the pitch to the fans and the team still on the pitch. “We imagined me standing here now completely differently,” said Dreesen and then justified the cancellation of the ceremony. The background is the attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg in the early evening. A car crashed into a crowd of people (read more about this here). There are said to have been a number of injuries and also deaths. “That’s why we decided to forego our Christmas ceremony today at very short notice,” said Dreesen.
Afterwards, cheers erupted from the fans in the stands. Dreesen further explained: “This ceremony should be a happy one and that just doesn't fit at this moment.” He called on the people in the Allianz Arena to stand up, “because it is right and important to remember the relatives, the victims, the friends. A person who is torn from the middle of life, many injured people at a happy celebration. This is something that saddens us all.”
A minute's silence followed for those affected by the attack. Dreesen thanked the fans shortly afterwards. Cheers and applause erupted again. The Bayern boss continued: “Christmas is a festival of love, a symbol of peace.” That's why they still want to sing a song together with the fans. “Silent Night” then rang through the arena, followed by more applause and cheers from the stands.
Shortly before Dreesen's speech, some Leipzig players caused unrest. Several players around DFB professional David Raum were on the field after the game. Dreesen told them clearly via microphone that he would ask them to “perhaps stop leaving now.” An appeal that was initially unsuccessful. The players continued with their program and were loudly booed by the fans in the arena. It was unclear whether they had not heard Dreesen's announcement. A Bayern employee then addressed the players on the field, this time successfully.
