Despite mega chaos

LASK loses license, but wins “Kickerl”!

Marin Ljubicic destroys the champions with a triple-pack.

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Christian Moser)

(Bild: Dostal Harald)

Nine years ago, LASK had the same mishap with a change of coach, which led to a license being denied. Despite this mishap and wild fan protests, the black and white team was not deterred and beat Salzburg 3:1 thanks to a Marin Ljubicic treble.

History often happens twice - the first time as a tragedy, the second time as a farce. The situation is similar at LASK:

May 2015: 1 1/2 years after the takeover, the club management fails the license application in the 1st instance, as Martin Hiden was appointed as successor after Karl Daxbacher's departure on 16 March. As a result, the club no longer had a UEFA Pro License coach despite the ongoing licensing procedure. But this is an A-criterion. Meaning: Without a pro-license coach, no badge! The solution: current Weißkirchen coach Alfred Olzinger has to act as a "straw man".

April 2024: Nine years later, LASK parted ways with Thomas Sageder and appointed A-license owner Max Ritscher as interim coach. In the middle of the licensing process. Which is why, after a tip-off from the league 36 hours later, Ritscher is swapped for UEFA Pro License owner Thomas Darazs. But too late! As in 2015, LASK is denied a license in the first instance.

A turbulent week!
Which fits in with the LASK chaos week. In which the escalation spiral between club and fans sped upwards: First there were "washing machine protests" in Graz and Linz against top sponsor BWT. The club responded with six bans, some of which are said to have been arbitrary. For example, one student who was 1600 km away from the fan action on Sunday was also affected.

 LASK voice stopped

The fact that the bans were justified with "illegal waste dumping", among other things, is also causing bad blood and a lack of understanding. So much so that stadium announcer Wolfgang Fröschl quit his job on Thursday after eleven years (see left). And all of this happened before LASK failed to obtain its license in the first instance, as it did nine years ago through its own fault.

The scene is seething

Soccer? Yes, it was also played, but was completely offside due to the concentrated portion of bankruptcies, bad luck and mishaps at LASK. A stone's throw from the stadium, 500 fans from the inner circle had gathered at the Cafe Froschberg, with some even talking of a provoked abandonment of the match against champions Salzburg. The scene was boiling, the police had the meeting recorded on video cameras. The fans on the black-and-white wall were as quiet as mice in the stands 30 minutes before kick-off, watching team goalie Lawal warm up.

Triple pack from Ljubicic

As announced, no support, no banners, just a few hundred Bulls fans making a fuss. Salzburg? Dominant, but you could feel the lack of self-confidence after the cup defeat and Rapid draw. When Guindo Stojkovic scored (16'), there was a VAR check, referee Harkam pointed to the spot and Ljubicic converted without humor. And the battered boxer struck back again - again Ljubicic (26), who converted a Flecker pass. The Bulls' record of 27 away games without a defeat shook badly, the LASK fans cheered silently. And then Ljubicic dealt Salzburg the knockout blow with his third goal (73'). Nene (84) reduced the deficit, but the champions are now even deeper in crisis.

Georg Leblhuber