Denied in 2nd instance

Austria Salzburg denied license again!

The Austrian Bundesliga had no good news for Austria Salzburg on Monday afternoon. Even in the second instance, the Violets were denied permission to play in the 2nd division. So the dream of professional soccer seems to be over (for the time being).

No approval in the first instance! No approval in the second instance! This has been official since Monday afternoon. Once again, the Austrian Bundesliga did not grant Austria Salzburg permission to play in the 2nd division. "It tears my heart out that we have to disappoint so many other Austrian players with this. Even though we couldn't influence this one thing, we take the blame," said chairman David Rettenbacher, who was not completely unprepared for the protest committee's decision, "but of course we were hoping."

The Bundesliga cited infrastructure as the reason. This concerns the lack of a building permit for the planned noise barrier to be erected at the stadium in Maxglan. This non-existent "notice" has a rat's tail. Because without a building permit, Austrian cannot prove that they are in the process of renovating their home ground. This also makes it impossible to go to Steyr, where the alternative venue is located. "We would receive this notification in the course of May, but then it would be too late." Because it is no longer possible to submit additional documents. 

"Otherwise we'll try again"
As a last resort, the club's managers still have the option of going to the Permanent Neutral Court of Arbitration. A complaint would have to be filed within eight days. Will the Violets take this step? That will be decided at a members' meeting on Tuesday evening. "I don't want to get ahead of it," says Rettenbacher. However, despite his visible disappointment, he is fighting for his team. "If it doesn't work out, we'll shake ourselves up and try again next year!"