Seven fixed suspensions

After derby scandal: This is how the league punishes Rapid

Guido Burgstaller

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

SK Rapid has been severely punished after the insulting and partly homophobic derailments following the derby. On Monday, the Bundesliga's penalty senate handed down unconditional penalties to all officials and players involved and imposed a conditional deduction of three points on the club. 

Managing director Steffen Hofmann received a two-month suspension for defamation (section 111), one month of which was unconditional. Assistant coach Stefan Kulovits received a three-month suspension for discrimination (section 112), one month of which was conditional.

Steffen Hofmann

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Suspension for players
Guido Burgstaller and Marco Grüll were suspended for six matches for discrimination (three unconditional), Thorsten Schick for five matches for the same offense (two unconditional). Maximilian Hofmann and goalkeeper Niklas Hedl were banned for three matches for violating the principle of fair play (111a), one of them unconditionally.

Marco Grüll

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

This means that Rapid will have to replace five players in the decisive match at Austria Klagenfurt on Sunday (5pm). Captain Burgstaller and goalscorer Grüll will miss Rapid until April.

Deduction of points
The deduction of three points for discrimination (112) will be reviewed until March 4, 2026. "The Austrian Football League is committed to the fight against discrimination of any kind. The role model effect of footballers, coaches and officials goes beyond what happens on the pitch," said the Bundesliga, explaining the extensive penalties.

The penalty in detail

SK Rapid: § 112 para. 2 - discrimination; deduction of three points conditionally until 04.03.2026.

Steffen Hofmann (managing director): § 111 para. 2 - defamation; suspension from match operations (home and away matches) for two months (of which 1 month conditionally suspended until 04.03.2026).

Stefan Kulovits (assistant coach): § 112 Para. 1 - Discrimination; suspension from match operations (home and away matches) for three months (of which 1 month conditionally suspended until 04.03.2026). Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Guido Burgstaller: § 112 para. 1 - Discrimination; 6-match suspension, of which 3 matches conditionally suspended for 24 months until 04.03.2026. Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Marco Grüll: Section 112 (1) - Discrimination; 6-match ban, including 3 matches suspended for 24 months until 04.03.2026. Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Thorsten Schick : Section 112 (1) - Discrimination; 5-match ban, including 3 matches suspended for 24 months until 04.03.2026. Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Maximilian Hofmann : Section 111a (1) - violation of the principle of fair play; 3-match ban, including 2 matches suspended for 24 months until 04.03.2026. Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Niklas Hedl: Section 111a (1) - violation of the principle of fair play; 3-match ban, of which 2 matches are suspended for 24 months until 04.03.2026. Participation in workshops on discrimination.

Functional suspensions: The functional suspensions include match operations - including the pitch, players' and coaches' benches, players' tunnel and dressing rooms. The curfew begins 30 minutes before the start of every competitive match and ends at the end of the match.

Workshops: The players are ordered to take part in three workshops of one hour each in schools on the subject of discrimination within 12 months and to name the organizer of the workshops in schools within four weeks of the internal legal force of the association. Proof must be provided in the form of confirmation from the institutions holding the workshops. The conditional forbearance can be revoked if the requirement is not met.

On February 25, Hütteldorfer defeated Austria 3-0 and won a home derby for the first time in ten years. In the days that followed, disturbing videos emerged that had been recorded during the victory celebrations. First, it became public that Steffen Hofmann lashed out at the city rivals. Hours later, a recording showed and heard Kulovits and the five players chanting homophobic chants against Austria together with fans.

The reasoning behind the verdict
"The content of the videos is in no way consistent with the values that soccer as a whole and the Austrian Football League in particular stand for," wrote the Bundesliga.

"Both SK Rapid and the players have credibly stated that they are very sorry for the incidents. Senate 1 has taken this into account accordingly in its sentencing by imposing partially conditional penalties on all those involved. It should be emphasized, however, that the specified range of penalties for discriminatory statements or actions documents the seriousness of the offences on the one hand and also clarifies the intention of the soccer legislator that such incidents are to be decisively prevented on the other. SK Rapid's catalog of measures was assessed just as positively as the players' willingness to actively participate in such awareness-raising workshops," the league statement continued.

Bundesliga boss Christian Ebenbauer

(Bild: GEPA)

Workshops in schools
The seven Rapid players involved must also take part in three one-hour workshops in schools. Following the scandal, Rapid has announced that it will present a catalog of measures to combat homophobia and sexism. Club president Alexander Wrabetz and vice-president Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger will hold a press conference on Tuesday (11.00 am) to comment in detail on the "extremely tough decisions" according to the press release.