SK Rapid Statement

The Football Club SK Rapid Vienna is very disappointed in a small number of Rapid fans, who have publicly damaged the reputation of the club very much through their terrible behaviour.

During the match yesterday the injured player Andreas Weimann, a young Austrian player for Aston Villa, was stretchered off the pitch. On the way to the dressing room he and the medical staff escorting him were spat at, drinks were thrown at them and they were verbally abused. This disgusting, unfair and unacceptable behaviour by a small number of Rapid fans was not just noted in Austria, but also in England.

This is why SK Rapid would like to make this statement to avoid any misunderstanding:
No player or member of staff of a visiting team is allowed to have drinks thrown over them, to be spat at, to be discriminated against or even to be injured in any way. SK Rapid will also take any appropriate, unconditional action to prevent objects being thrown onto the pitch.

In the case of Andreas Weimann these actions are all the more severe, because this player, who is a product of the Rapid Academy, has always stood by the club. He is a Rapid fan
and also let it be known that he stood by the club in the run-up to the game. Weimann's family are all real true Rapid fans, who are members of the club and have season tickets.

SK Rapid would like to officially offer this statement as a means of apology to Andreas Weimann, his family and to the club Aston Villa.