German football club Fortuna Dusseldorf to allow free admission to home games

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - German football club Fortuna Dusseldorf on Wednesday announced that they will allow free admission to their league home games starting next season.

In a statement, the club in 2. Bundesliga, the second division of professional football in Germany, said the new policy dubbed "Fortuna for everyone" is meant "to enable top-league football in Düsseldorf again and to gather all Düsseldorf citizens behind the club."

"We start where everyone comes together and allow free admission to our league home games. Whether members, season ticket holders, organized support or simply fans - everyone gets into the stadium for free," the club said.

The team would run a pilot scheme during the 2023-24 campaign before the project is fully implemented in the following years.

The loss of matchday revenue, meanwhile, will be compensated by greater investment from "new strategic partners ... who share our conviction that football belongs first and foremost to the fans."

Fortuna Dusseldorf, founded in 1895, were relegated from the Bundesliga in the 2019-20 season. They won the German championship in the 1932-33 season.