FC Luzern In English

We are all idiots

Your favorite English language FC Luzern propaganda machine got a bit upset a while ago, most likely in November, and went into a semi conscious state of sulking hibernation.

We think we remember a prolonged conflict where the love of our life (well, you know, recent football watching life) told us that we were no longer wanted and had to be punished.  She even went as far a saying that we were totally replaceable.  We were heartbroken; don’t, don’t you want me? You know I don’t believe you when you say you don’t need me. Or maybe that was a song - well, anyway, we are digressing.  After all we had been through together we were branded ‘so called football fans’ , anarchists and troublemakers – clearly not the type of person you want if your business plan has identified the high-end ‘lifestyle’ customer who to attend the football themed ‘events’ you are planning to host. We were not happy to say the least.

We were not alone.  For every day that passed we saw a community taking shape. Social media became a platform where fans from all walks of life could meet and discuss. A fair number of those who were branded anarchists and trouble makers turned out to be accountants, engineers and marketing managers.  

The joy of going to the New Allmend had disappeared so large parts of the stadium stayed silent.

People now started to notice that the fans are truly the soul of a club, without us it is just not the same. A silent football ground is an eerie and almost unpleasant experience, just look at Wankdorf.  Without the atmosphere the football themed event suddenly lost its appeal.

The ground went quiet but the protest got louder. Local media who previously had only repeated the official club line started to ask questions. And there were certainly many questions that had to be asked. Why is collective punishment an appropriate method? Why would you as a punishment of ‘hooliganism’  want to cut the funding from ‘fanarbeit’ - the very organization that has done so much to prevent it in the past? How come flares/pyros which has been an integral part of stadium culture for over twenty year suddenly became more dangerous than ebola?

Then sometime around the New Year we felt a change. Maybe the club suddenly came to the realization that its rather inept communications department was helpless when the fans had found their own Tahrir Square online.  The goal was always to unite the stadium.  When more and more ‘ordinary’ fans started to speak up in support of the protest we knew that a dialogue would soon have to start.

And sure enough – this week the ban was lifted, and flags are again allowed at our shiny new football themed event facility. And we will be there.   Just Can’t Beat That is back online. We will continue to dedicate a large portion of our spare time to follow FC Luzern, regardless if she wants it or not.

Why?

Because we are all idiots.  Alles dommi sieche.