Two weeks before they host title rivals Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Watzke told the club’s annual general meeting that a another blanket fan ban would be unfair.

Dortmund’s state of North Rhine-Westphalia is not as badly hit as Saxony, where RB Leipzig have been ordered to play at least the next three games behind closed doors, or Bavaria, where Bayern and Augsburg can only have 25 per cent stadium capacity.

“Football is an open-air event, you have to bear that in mind,” Watzke said.

“We must not allow ourselves to be held collectively liable with other regions that have had fewer vaccinations and therefore have completely different figures.”

He had heard from the local health department “that there have not yet been any abnormalities at all that would have anything to do with a Borussia Dortmund game.”

Financially, the pandemic has had an impact, with a loss of 116 million euros (131 million dollars) over the last 18 months. But Watzke was staying positive because of good economic management and a recent capital increase.

“Coronavirus won’t knock us down in the end, but it’s already inflicting one or two wounds,” Watzke said.

He did not mention the battle with champions Bayern in his report to members, who also elected former Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller as auditor.

Dortmund are a point behind the leaders after 12 games.

“All the other 35 clubs (in the top two divisions) can breathe a sigh of relief: I haven’t said a word about anyone,” Watzke joked.