Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler shoots against RB Leipzig

President Dirk Zingler from Union Berlin has allowed himself a verbal broadside in the direction of Bundesliga competitor RB Leipzig.

“I’m happy for Leipzig. You can watch Bundesliga football and international football. But you should also be honest: RB is not an East German club,” said Zingler in an interview with the Editorial network Germany.

The 64-year-old added: “The corporate headquarters are in Austria. There is a club in Leipzig, in Salzburg and in New York. Behind it is an Austrian beverage company that is founding sports clubs to strengthen its brand. Leipzig is more of a random location.”

Red Bull initiated the founding of RB Leipzig in 2009, and for the 2009/10 season the club took over the right to start from SSV Markranstädt in the Regionalliga Nordost. It was also thanks to the millions from the Austrian beverage manufacturer that it made it through to the Bundesliga.

However, Zingler generally does not like these “East-West comparisons”. At the same time he admitted: “It means something to the people who think in these categories – and rightly so. We hear and feel the reactions we get from East German regions. There is joy and pride that we are leaders. On the other hand, we sense surprise from those who are not from East Germany.”

The Köpenickers cultivate their image as an Eastern club, among other things, in their club anthem, which states that they “don’t let the West buy them”.