The passion for football is sometimes difficult to understand and explain. It is much more than a sport, it is a way of life, A madness that goes beyond the grass and, proof of this, are the fans who leave their throat every day to push their team towards the opposite goal.
The fans are sometimes criticized for their insults or crossed out of violent but, above all, they manage to create a magical atmosphere with their choreographies, colors, and of course through their songs. The “typho” and those issues, which are already hymns, are part of football as much as the ball, the referee or the players. Except for exceptions, most of the melodies that are heard every week in the stadiums take as a basis the musical hit of the moment in the radios or in Spotify or the most chanted pieces in the history of music.
A shadow too elongated
However, These songs do not escape the controversy and That is precisely those that happened to St. Pauli. This German club is a small shelter for all those contrary to modern football and its passion for money. Thus, with around 20 million fans throughout the world this club is one of the banners of progressivism. In their statutes, for example, they are defined as anti -fascists, anti -agists, antisexists and “gay friendly ‘. “. It was the first institution to be commanded (between 2002 and 2010) by an openly gay president and militant of the LGTB cause (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender): Theatrical businessman Corny Littmann. Within the internal walls of the stadium, There is a mural of two men kissing passionately under the motto “the only thing that matters is love.”
Considered The most progressive club in the world is not surprising the great debate that has been opened in its stands.
A heated debate about whether to keep playing the song a few weeks ago unleashed “The heart of St. Pauli”, the most mythical of those that are chanted by his fans. It is still not clear if the song will be completely eliminated from the stadium support program. But at least last weekend against SC Friburg, it was not heard and it will probably not do so in the following matches.
The reason? The dark Nazi past of its lyricist.
The club reported: “The FC St. Pauli will continue the exchange with its members and fans on how to address the song ‘The heart of St. Pauli’, but will suspend the reproduction of the song in the stadium. The Association wants to thank all those involved for the debate, to a large extent objective and respectful, on a very emotional issue. ”
For more than 20 years, the song in the version of the Phantastix & Elf band creates a great atmosphere before the start of the game and the fans continue to sing it even without music. But now the story is stirred against them.
The lyricist Josef Oligig (born in 1906) worked as a journalist in right -wing propaganda newspapers during the Nazi era, was later recruited in the Air Force and participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union as a war correspondent. After the war, he continued working as a newspaper (Die Welt, Abendblatt) and wrote lyrics, including “Das Herz von St. Pauli.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdgsr-_sugk
Historical investigation
The stir has been such that President Oke Göttlich has been forced to pronounce: “We know and understand that the song has great emotional meaning for many people. We understand and respect the different arguments in this complex discussion. We want to create the strongest possible base and not make hasty decisions; But we don’t just want to say: Keep how until now! Such a song should unite people, it should be a common and unifying moment. Given the discussion about the song it is better to retain it. If when interpreting the anthem is whistled and insults that is unacceptable and does not help anyone. ”
After the flood of complaints, The club is conducting a deep investigation into the song and the author of the lyrics. After the opinion a final decision will be issued but for the moment, the mythical team is left without a heart.