Leipzig First Leg Against Liverpool to Not Be Played in Germany

RB Leipzig's first game in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool will not be held at Red Bull Arena due to COVID-19 restrictions. The German government has banned flights from high-risk areas which include the United Kingdom, throwing the game into turmoil.

Leipzig did apply for an exemption that would allow the reigning English Premier League champions to travel to Germany. That application was denied and now the host team must look for an alternate venue for the game.

"The corona protection order agreed by the federal government last Friday envisions only a few exceptions and no special arrangements for professional athletes," said the German Minister of the Interior. "The federal police has told the RB Leipzig club today that the circumstances of the given cause does not meet the requirements for an exemption."

Regulations during the pandemic place the responsibility of finding a venue on the host team, leaving Leipzig until Monday to find an alternate venue. There is a possibility that the first game could be played in Liverpool since people in German are still allowed to travel to the UK. Either way both legs of the Round of 16 must be completed by April 2nd in order of the competition to continue forward.

Alternatively, Lepzig could end up forfeiting the game should UEFA decide that they did not meet requirements. Such a decision would place the East German club in a hole for the second leg in Liverpool which still appears to be on schedule.

"We are in talks and we are working on a solution," said Leipzig executive Oliver Mintzlaff.

Comments

Red Bulls Announce Fan Experience Improvements

by Garry Redman On top of the theme nights announced this season, something new has been added the next time the season ticket holders and supporters step inside The Cathedral... The state-of-the-art LED lighting system at Red Bull Arena will provide higher on-field light levels for enhanced visibility and safety and introduce new entertainment features that heighten the overall experience for spectators. Built around Musco's Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, the new system is designed to provide exceptional playability and uniformity while minimizing glare. Cleaner, whiter light will elevate the broadcast quality for fans watching around the world. Color-changing fixtures and Show-Light® Pro entertainment technology will allow the Red Bulls to wash the stadium in different colors and synchronize light shows to music, heightening the fan experience during goal celebrations, player introductions, and other big moments. If you have no idea what this means, click here t

Rumor: Dru Yearwood to be Traded to Nashville SC

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced More trade rumors are circulating as Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood is linked to a move to Nashville SC according to Tom Bogert of the Athletic . What Red Bull will receive for such a trade remains to be seen. However expectations are that the move will be finalized by the end of next week. Yearwood joined New York in 2020 from Brentford in England. Along the way he has made 86 appearances for the club, including 55 starts. In 2021 and 2022 he made 18 starts, scoring three goals and three assists, his total output for the club in Major League Soccer. In 2023 Yearwood found his position in the club to vary greatly. At times he played in a defensive midfield role next to Frankie Amaya and other times higher up the field, almost as a second forward. After the departure of Cristian Casseres Jr. earlier in the year, it appeared as if Yearwood's minutes would increase. However Daniel Edelman stepped into the role, relegating Yearwood to more

Ex-Red Bulls Coach Gerhard Struber Shares Thoughts on MLS and Salzburg

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced Red Bull News Network had the chance to communicate with former New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber, now the manager of Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. Struber was with New York from the end of the 2020 campaign through to the early part of 2023. Along the way he secured two playoff berths, a seventh and fourth place finish in 2021 and 2022 respectively. While his time was ended abruptly in MLS, his memories of the American version of the game have helped him prepare for such a monumental task in Europe. You spent nearly three seasons in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, what did you learn from that experience that has made you a different coach at Red Bull Salzburg? Struber: In addition to the sporting aspects, there is a lot that I was able to gain from my work at New York Red Bulls. Any work in a foreign country not only brings you closer to the language, but also to the culture and mentality of the pe

Red Bull News Network

Search This Blog