By Chris Wright
German lower league side BV Altenessen II (BVA) – that’s them up there – are currently on the very cusp of securing the Kreisliga B Group 1 Essen North West league championship title.
Indeed, it’s hardly surprising that BVA find themselves on the verge of winning the league with just six fixtures left to play given that they’ve won 20 of their 22 games so far this season.
However, it may surprise you to learn that BVA have managed this without playing a competitive tie against any of their Kreisliga B rivals since March.
This is because the 14 other teams in the league have been boycotting their games against BVA in protest after the club had a player banned for life (since reduced to two-and-a-half years on appeal) for assaulting a referee earlier in the season.
In a show of solidarity against violence in lower league football, the entire Kreisliga entered into a pact to refuse to play against BVA for the rest of the season.
Before the boycott, BVA were winning games and riding high in the league – their only defeat of the season coming as a result of the aforementioned assault. Their opponents were awarded a 2-0 victory after the game was abandoned.
However, it appears that their good form was a result of decidedly dodgy intimidation techniques, with Selcuk Günes, coach of league rivals Türkiyemspor (the only team to manage a draw against BVA so far this season), explaining that teams dread playing against BVA due to their widely recognised disciplinary issues.
“They all fear to score against BVA, even when they are down by a few goals. There was always trouble,” he said.
Such was the nature of the referee attack that match officials refused to turn up for their subsequent two games – after which the boycott kicked in.
In the meanwhile, due to league rules, BVA have been amassing three points for each fixture their opponents have refused to fulfil.
Thus, BVA are now streaking toward the title thanks to their ill-gained unbeaten run.
Kreisliga B Group 1 Essen North West league co-ordinator Thorsten Flugel told the local newspaper:
“There is no alternative. We must keep order and statutes in football, even if it is deeply repugnant to me that the club (BVA) ascends as a result.”
As it happens, BVA’s sporting director Walter Minewitsch has confirmed that the club are not planning to celebrate their title win as and when.
“Even in Altenessen, no major championship celebrations are being planned for the end of the season,” he said.
“We are of two minds though, as we cannot object to the rise.”
And to think some folks think Chelsea are undeserving champions!
(Via Der Tagesspiegel)