FC Erzgebirge Aue will continue to play test matches against RB Leipzig in the future. After several speeches at the general meeting of the third-division soccer club, 179 fans voted in favor, 148 voted against. The club announced that the vote, which was submitted by the club's honorary council, was intended as a recommendation to the board and the sporting management.
Last summer, a secret test match between Aue and Leipzig caused unrest in the Violets' fan scene. In the run-up to the match, the active fan scene had already called for the match to be canceled, as they rejected the RB Leipzig construct - the club only has 23 (as of March 2024) selected voting members - as did a large number of other supporters.
Recurring protests
The club management of the third division club did not feel compelled to cancel, seeing the sporting value as a dress rehearsal for the start of the new season as an important point. "We have to put up with any criticism that arises and take the path together," said sporting director Matthias Heidrich. Leipzig won the test at their own training ground on Cottaweg 1:0 thanks to a goal from youngster Robert Ramsak.
The FCE Ultras then terminated their cooperation with the club management. In a statement, the active fan scene spoke of a "sad point in our club's history", saying that "another piece of a friendly club" had died. The game stands against values and identity.
RB Leipzig has repeatedly had problems with opposing fans in the past when scheduling test matches. Planned matches were often canceled due to pressure from supporters. Last summer, a test match against fourth-division club Rot-Weiß Erfurt was also canceled after protests from the Ultras.
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