Borussia Mönchengladbach fans donate cardboard cut-outs to fill Borussia-Park
Borussia Mönchengladbach fans have ordered more than 12,000 cardboard cut-outs of themselves to help fill Borussia-Park in the event that the Bundesliga returns behind closed doors.
The fifth-biggest stadium in the German top-flight has been packed to its 54,014 capacity or close for most of the season as the Foals have galloped to fourth in the table, just six points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga is the first major European league to make a cautious return to play in light of the global coronavirus pandemic. One pre-requisite of the return was the playing of matches behind closed doors, with no more than 213 people in a stadium, players or staff.
Unable to lend their vociferous support in the usual way, Gladbach fans have contributed to the 'Stay at home. Be in the stands' campaign in their droves. For €19.00, the 'cardboard you' will be installed in the stands, with the proceeds going to local charities. The Foals have even allowed for fans of other teams to order a cut-out which will be placed in the away end.
"The campaign organisers are regularly overrun with orders; we can hardly keep up trying to install them all," explained Gladbach fan representative Thomas Weinmann. "But we're obviously delighted with the overwhelming support it's received."
Gladbach players, coaches and board members had previously agreed to forgo their salaries in order to help the club and its employees. Fans can contribute to the latest campaign by uploading their photo to www.seidabei-trotzdem.de.