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Bundesliga will go ahead as planned, says Rauball

Davis Van OpdorpNovember 18, 2015

Despite last week's attacks in Paris and the cancelled national team match in Hanover, the Bundesliga and UEFA competitions are to go ahead as scheduled. Fans can expect stepped up security in the stadiums, though.

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Präsident des Ligaverbandes DFL - Reinhard Rauball
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Bundesliga matchday 13, due to kick off on Friday, is to go ahead as scheduled, German football league (DFL) president Reinhard Rauball confirmed on Wednesday.

"The matchday will take place," Rauball said. "We have great confidence in the federal and state security authorities. On the one hand, we do not want to succumb to terror. Yet, on the other, top priority must be given to protecting human life."

Four days after explosions occurred near the Stade de France - where the German national team was playing France in an international friendly - German police canceled a friendly between Germany and the Netherlands on Tuesday night due to a bomb scare at the HDI-Arena in Hanover. Hannover 96 cancelled morning training "for logistical reasons," club spokesman Alex Jacob said on Wednesday.

Hamburg SV also confirmed on their website their match against Borussia Dortmund on Friday, the first of the matchday 13 fixtures, will go ahead as planned. HSV manager Bruno Labbadia spoke in favor of the decision in his press conference on Wednesday.

Deutschland Fans des Hamburger SV
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Brandt

Hamburg announced that they would step up security for Friday's match, joining several other Bundesliga clubs. FC Cologne said in a statement that the "visible presence of law enforcement officers will increase" for their match at the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday when they host 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Champions League, Europa League also have green light

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also issued a statement saying the Champions League and Europa League games would go ahead as well. Both competitions are scheduled to have their fifth matchday of their respective group stages between Tuesday and Thursday next week.

"All matches are scheduled to go ahead as planned," UEFA said in a statement.

"UEFA has very strict rules regarding safety and security in relation to the organization of matches and is working closely with the home clubs and local authorities to ensure all necessary measures are implemented to guarantee safety for all involved. UEFA has not issued directives about traveling fans; it is up to the relevant authorities to decide such matters."

dv/pfd (AFP/dpa)