Football club spotlights ME/CFS and Long COVID in awareness campaign

SV Wehen Wiesbaden's Home Match Highlights Awareness for ME/CFS, Long COVID, and Post-Vaccination Syndrome

The SV Wehen Wiesbaden home game on matchday 36 of the 3. Liga against VfL Osnabrück this Sunday (May 3) at 4:30 p.m. will center on a special awareness campaign. Together with Empty Stands—a fan-led self-help initiative—the club aims to draw attention to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), Long COVID, and post-vaccination syndrome (Post-Vac). The goal is to give those affected greater visibility and push the issue further into public consciousness.

ME/CFS is a severe multisystem disease that often develops following infections. A defining symptom is post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a sometimes drastic worsening of health after even minor physical or mental exertion. In Germany, an estimated 650,000 people live with the condition. For many, attending a stadium match is impossible or only feasible under severely restricted conditions. Some Long COVID and Post-Vac patients develop a similar clinical picture that meets the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

"For many people with ME/CFS, going to a stadium is no longer a given," explains Leonie Schlitt, Head of Sustainability and Strategy at SVWW. "With this awareness matchday, we want to use our reach to shine a light on this serious illness. It remains far too little recognized by the broader public, while medical and social support often fall short. Together with Empty Stands, we want to show those affected and their families that they are an integral part of our red-and-black community."

Info Booth, Cup Donation Drive, and Invitation for Patients and Families

As part of the campaign, fans can learn about ME/CFS at an information booth. Additionally, a deposit cup collection will raise funds for the nonprofit ME/CFS Research Foundation.

The club is also making a special gesture by inviting affected individuals who are able to attend. Alongside their families, they can watch the match in the club lounge—a more protected setting that accommodates the specific needs of many patients. Through this initiative, SVWW and Empty Stands aim not only to raise awareness but also to enable tangible participation.

"We are thrilled to join SV Wehen Wiesbaden in raising awareness of these debilitating conditions. We deeply appreciate the club's strong commitment, as actions like these are crucial to making the issue more visible in society," emphasizes Empty Stands.

About Empty Stands

Empty Stands is an initiative by football fans with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and Post-Vac, as well as their families. The group connects affected individuals from numerous clubs, advocating for greater public awareness, improved medical care, and increased research.

"This matchday against VfL Osnabrück represents more than 90 minutes of football—it stands for visibility, understanding, and solidarity with people forced to withdraw from public life due to their illness," Schlitt underscores.

For more information on Empty Stands, click here.

For the latest SVWW news, visit here.