The deaf lion

Now imagine coming up those same stairs, still surrounded by as many people, just a few minutes until kick-off, but everything is completely silent. This is how Klaus "KB" Abildgaard experiences football week after week, year after year. Klaus was born deaf and is a dedicated FCK fan who experiences the atmosphere and games in a way that’s completely different from most of us.

In general, Klaus’s experience and journey as a fan are very different from others’. How does a deaf boy who fell in love with football stay informed about what’s happening in a game, or get updates about his team, without being able to hear the commentary or read subtitles on the weekly football show? This has never stopped Klaus or made him lose interest—on the contrary, it’s made him more curious and motivated to bring together other deaf football fans and fight for better accessibility and information options for deaf fans.

Klaus has his usual seat in Upper C, seat number 192. He always attends the games and can also be found on the fan club’s buses or flights when the boys from Østerbro play away games.

Klaus lives and breathes F.C. Copenhagen, and his membership number, 130, in the F.C. Copenhagen Fan Club reflects his long life as a fan of "the Lions." However, Klaus’s football journey actually started somewhere else.

“It all started with Saturday Football on TV. I watched it and thought, ‘Wow, what is this?’ It was English football that caught my interest, especially Liverpool.”

Klaus’s parents had no interest in football or even a basic understanding of it. It wasn’t until his mother’s friend’s husband, Jesper, sat down with him and explained the rules—throw-ins, corners, goal kicks—that Klaus truly understood the beautiful game he had watched Saturday after Saturday.

“One day, Jesper told me about the Danish national team. I thought it sounded exciting, and he immediately took me to a game at the Sports Park. This was around 1980, and we watched Denmark play Iceland.”

Klaus was particularly fascinated by goalkeepers, and at the Sports Park, he quickly noticed Denmark’s goalkeeper, Ole Qvist. Klaus wanted to know more about Ole, and Jesper told him he played for the club KB.

“Klaus remembers saying immediately, ‘Ah, KB. Well, then I want to see KB play, because that’s where Ole plays.’”

It didn’t take long before Klaus saw his first KB game, where they played against AGF, marking the start of many years of devotedly attending as many KB games as he could.

Klaus "KB" Abildgaard

Following all KB’s games was so important to him that he structured his life around when and where KB was playing. Even in his school years, he stayed on campus during weekends when KB was playing away against OB or Aarhus, making it easier to travel from school to the games.

“It was just KB, KB, KB. I was so in love with KB that my nickname among friends just became ‘KB.’”

Klaus was obsessed with KB, and if he felt something was missing, he took matters into his own hands. His eyes light up as he reaches into his bag, pulling out a hat he meticulously sewed with a KB patch on the front, so everyone could see which team he supported. The hat is 44 years old and has followed Klaus through thick and thin, never once being washed. Klaus felt KB merchandise was lacking, so he simply made his own.

When the fusion with B1903 happened in 1992, it was natural for Klaus to follow, and this is why he can boast his low membership number in the fan club and a lifelong dedication to F.C. Copenhagen.

The Deaf Lions

From the age of 10-11, Klaus met a few other deaf fans on the sidelines as a young KB fan.

“It was so boring to watch games at home on TV; I’d much rather be at KB games, being social with other deaf fans.”

Klaus has built this social network throughout his life, and when Facebook came around, he and other deaf fans quickly discovered it was a great communication platform. Soon, groups for deaf fans in all kinds of sports emerged.

“It was a whole new world for us. We could find other deaf fans more easily, and the outside world noticed us too. We could form communities so much easier.”

He created the group "The Deaf Lions" as a gathering place for all deaf and hard-of-hearing FCK fans. He later found out that another similar group existed, and they agreed to merge the two into a single, larger group. Today, they have almost 100 members, including 10 fans from the Faroe Islands who joined when Todi Jönsson played for F.C. Copenhagen.

They use the group to share information, so no one misses anything and encourage each other to attend away games and other events.

Information, particularly, is something Klaus feels is lacking.

Football knowledge and updates are easily lost in today’s media landscape, which is challenging for deaf fans to keep up with. The old printed match programs, where one could read stats and news, are gone. Podcasts, live broadcasts, and FCK TV that aren’t subtitled are inaccessible to Klaus and his friends, leaving them without crucial analyses and information on games, players, and the club.

At this year’s general meeting at Parken, Klaus showed up with an interpreter because he had a question and a request on behalf of deaf and hard-of-hearing fans regarding the subtitling of videos, podcasts, and other media that are challenging for Klaus and his friends. Many approached Klaus afterward to praise him for raising the issue, which was undoubtedly something most hadn’t thought about.

Perhaps part of the solution is just around the corner. A woman approached Klaus after the general meeting to tell him they’re working hard on using AI to subtitle content in real-time, making life easier for the deaf community.

Being Deaf at the Stadium

It’s not just the media that’s hard to follow. Information during the game can be challenging for deaf or hard-of-hearing fans, too.

“Information during the game is sometimes hard to follow. Not everything is subtitled on the big screen, and when it is, it’s often delayed, so there can be a wait before you understand what’s happening. In Norway, they have interpreters sitting with deaf fans, translating everything in real-time. In Ireland, an interpreter is even shown on the big screen during the national anthem.”

Klaus dreams of this happening in Danish stadiums, and they’ve considered bringing an interpreter to the games, but it’s only been a thought so far.

As a deaf fan, Klaus experiences the atmosphere differently than hearing fans. At his usual seat in C12, he can’t really feel the atmosphere; he sits far from Section 12, so it’s difficult to sense the crowd’s energy. But he does enjoy away games more, where he can feel closer to the action and a part of the experience.

“We’re closer in the away sections, and I can feel the atmosphere more. Playing somewhere like Silkeborg, with a small, intimate section, I can really feel the vibrations. It’s awesome. I feel more included and a part of the whole experience.”

However, Klaus would never consider changing his seat to Section 12 for the home games to get the full experience. He and his friends tried it once, but as the section grew, they were pushed to the corner and pressured to jump and actively join in the cheering. It was too difficult for them, and his friend Peter, who he always attends games with, has a bad knee, so they have to be mindful of that.

“We can clap in rhythm and follow along as best as we can, but it’s impossible to keep up with the songs.”

So, they’re happy on Upper C, where they can see all the games and enjoy the view of the entire pitch and Section 12, getting as much of the experience as possible. They’re a group of 15 sign language users, either deaf or hard of hearing, who watch the games together.

“It’s perfect at C12. We have a great view and can see the whole field and Section 12, so we get as much of the experience as we can.”

A Social Lion and Ambassador

If Klaus goes to football alone, he’s an “invisible deaf person,” which isn’t Klaus’s style. The social aspect is hugely important to him. That’s why he always goes on away trips, where he and his friends have gotten to know all the regulars. Even though most people don’t know sign language, they still try to communicate with Klaus. Klaus’s nephew, Lasse, often joins as a guide on the fan club buses, giving essential information to the Deaf Lions.

They also have a regular table at the bar (formerly CP), where they go to drink beer after games.

“People know us there, and they know that our table is ‘The Deaf Table.’ They always come by for a high-five if we’ve won or a pat on the back if we’ve lost. If someone doesn’t know us, they often get curious and come over to say hi.”

It’s not only F.C. Copenhagen friends that Klaus has in his life. Over the years, he’s also made many friends who support Brøndby. In the past, they used to attend games together, but unfortunately, they can’t do that anymore.

“For the game where Zuma scored with that bicycle kick, I had bought 30 tickets for Upper A. My ex-wife wasn’t too happy that I’d spent so much on tickets, but it meant we could all watch the game side by side. They, the Brøndby fans, of course, sat politely when we scored, while we, the FCK fans, went completely wild. Afterward, we went out and celebrated together.”

And Klaus’s network isn’t limited to Denmark. When F.C. Copenhagen plays European matches, many deaf fans from opposing teams who travel with their clubs reach out to Klaus.

“They get in touch with me to see if I can help them get tickets or help with anything else they might need. I often meet with them before or after games, as they’re in the away section, and we have an international conversation about the game and all sorts of other things. After the Bayern Munich game, I even brought two Bayern fans to the FCK bar. I was a bit nervous, but everyone was friendly, came over, and tried to communicate with them. It was actually a really great experience.”

When the situation is reversed, there’s always someone ready to help Klaus and the other Deaf Lions.

“When I travel in Europe, I also meet with local deaf fans. They show me around, and we talk and have a really good dialogue despite our affiliations.”

Klaus greatly values both receiving and giving significant help to other deaf fans, so they, too, can have an optimal football experience at the stadium. Although AI technology is on the horizon and will undoubtedly help Klaus and the other Deaf Lions, they continue to fight for text access to all information—big and small.

“As a deaf person, I always feel like I’m falling a bit behind in my knowledge, and if I want to discuss things on equal footing with other fans, text access is essential. I’ll fight for it until the day I die,” Klaus concludes.