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Berlin (dpa) - At Hertha BSC, the pressure on the leadership around President Werner Gegenbauer and Manager Michael Preetz is growing.
As the Berlin police confirmed, a permit for a fan demonstration was given on Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Olympic Square.
At 6.30 p.m. (Sky) the game between Hertha and Werder Bremen begins in the stadium.
After the first half of the season in the Bundesliga, Berlin are only in 14th place, two points ahead of relegation rank 16, despite their great ambitions. If they lose again against Bremen, coach Bruno Labbadia is expected to separate.
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The organizers of the demonstration, however, are calling for the resignation of the long-time football officials Gegenbauer and Preetz.
At the club's digital press conference before the Werder game, the manager expressed understanding for the supporters' dissatisfaction, but did not use the word resignation.
"Anyone who is responsible must also face criticism," said Preetz.
The 53-year-old announced that the criticism would be accepted and reflected.
«You have to follow your convictions and give expression to them.
That's why we're tackling the situation together, "said Preetz.
So far, the rally has been requested for 70 people, but according to the police, more fans could also take part, provided the locally deployed police forces did not detect any violations of the Corona regulations or have other security concerns.
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An online petition that had been running for eleven days with the resignation request from Gegenbauer and Preetz had been signed by more than 3,300 people by Thursday noon.
Former Hertha striker Preetz has been manager of the Bundesliga club since 2009.
The entrepreneur Gegenbauer has been president of the association since 2008.
Preetz rejected speculations about Ralf Rangnick's involvement with Hertha BSC.
"Nothing at all," was the short answer from the 53-year-old when asked whether the Berliners were thinking about the ex-RB Leipzig coach.
Rangnick was recently traded in the media as a candidate for a successor to coach Bruno Labbadia, who is under great pressure after falling to 14th place before the Bremen game.
Rangnick is said to have been a candidate at Hertha BSC last year.
The 62-year-old could, however, also be considered for a higher-level task as sports director and trainer and thus become the successor to Labbadia and Preetz.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210121-99-114900 / 3
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