Scandal in the stadium: Journalist has no access to the press zone!

Scandal in the stadium: Journalist has no access to the press zone!

On April 17, 2025, editor Johannes Götze reports on his experiences at a game of SG Baroque city in Trier. Although he was officially accredited, he experienced a number of unpleasant surprises that made journalistic reporting significantly difficult. Access to the interior and the press conference was denied what is unusual in the industry and raises the question of how such situations can be prevented in the future.

The work area that was assigned to him was greatly dirty, and there was no possibility of leading interviews in the mixed zone. Götze had a confirmed press card but prevented security employee that he entered the interior. An official contact for the association was not available, which the situation continued. An email request to the association did not bring any clarification because it stated that no interior access had been applied for.

accreditation in journalism

The accreditation of journalists, as described wikipedia , is an important prerequisite for access to events. It ranges from a simple press-relevant entry ticket to precise agreements to the way reporting. Journalists often receive special ID cards and often have to prove that they are working journalistically to be approved for events, as the German journalists academy

In the Götzes case, the lack of support on the part of the association and the unclear communication for accreditation was particularly frustrating. Team manager Maximilian Hainer and player Leon Pomnitz turned out to be a savior in need by enabling Götze to interview in the stands. Götze said that he had never experienced such a situation in his 13 years of professional experience.

games and referee decisions

During the game between Eintracht Trier and SG Baroque city, which was led by referee Sebastian Hilsberg, a controversial moment occurred in injury time. Hilsberg decided on an indirect free kick after SGB keeper Jannik Horz lasted the ball too long. From the next season, such a offense will be punished with a corner ball, a change of rule that could significantly influence the dynamics of the games.

Another game that took place that day was the encounter between SV Steinbach and Adler Weidenhausen, which ended 0: 3. Referee Timo Hager made a remarkable decision when he sent Steinbach defender Moritz Herbig off the pitch due to bloodstained. Such decisions show how important the referee team is in the game and how it can sometimes lead to discussions within the reporting.