Pro-Ukrainian messages could be seen at the Bundesliga top game. The broadcasting Russian TV station didn’t like that and started censoring. The DFL could now draw consequences.
Bundesliga matches are also broadcast in Russia. Still. Because on Saturday there was a censorship incident on TV there that could still have consequences.
The top game on Saturday evening between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig (1:4) was shown on the “Futbol3” channel of the Russian broadcaster MatchTV. At least partially. Because shortly before the end of the first half, the transmission was interrupted. This is reported by the TV station “ntv” on its website.
The reason for the abrupt end: Among other things, pro-Ukrainian messages could be seen on the display board in Signal Iduna Park, as well as the national colors of the country. The call “Stop the war” could also be read there. That did not suit those responsible for the broadcasting station in Russia at all. Commentator Igor Kytmanov said: “Unfortunately, we have to cancel the broadcast for reasons beyond our control. The general rule is that football and politics should be considered separately, but this rule is not always respected in the Bundesliga.”
This process will now probably have consequences on the part of the German Football League (DFL). The league association had already announced in early March that it would donate one million euros to Ukraine. All income from the TV contract with Russia should flow into the donation. This was deliberately not terminated so that the “anti-war calls and appeals for peace from the German stadiums would continue to reach the Russian population,” the DFL said. In this context, the association made it clear: “The basic TV signal should be repeatedly censored , this would result in an extraordinary dismissal by the DFL.”
