Press Release 17th November 2025

300 footballers with disabilities: record number of participants at the SPIELERPASS CUP presented by BILLA in St. Pölten

BILLA is particularly committed to promoting sport and exercise among young people at various levels. In addition to partnerships with sports clubs throughout Austria and the popular BILLA campaign ‘I live for my club!’, the food retailer also sponsors cups and tournaments. These include the SPIELERPASS CUP – Austria's largest indoor football tournament for people with disabilities – which BILLA is supporting as the main sponsor for the second time in a row.

A large, diverse group of people, including children and adults, gathers in a gymnasium for an event. They are wearing colorful sports uniforms and appear excited, with many raising their hands in celebration. Banners and signs for sponsors are visible, and spectators are seated in the background.

300 Football Players with Disabilities Set a New Participation Record at the SPIELERPASS CUP Presented by BILLA in St. Pölten / Copyright: © Spielerpass / Florian Rogner, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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At a glance

BILLA supported the largest indoor football tournament for people with disabilities for the second time as the main sponsor.
300 players from six federal states and, for the first time, German clubs (TSV 1860 Munich and Hannover 96) took part in the cup at the Lower Austria Sports Centre.
Football greats Stefan Maierhofer, Andreas Dober, Christopher Dibon, Gerd Wimmer, Walter Knaller, Erwin ‘Jimmy’ Hoffer and Georg Teigl were on duty as referees.
BILLA employs nearly 1,000 staff members with disabilities and implements measures to ensure an inclusive shopping experience.

An unforgettable tournament – characterised by inclusion and sporting team spirit

The eighth edition of the SPIELERPASS CUP presented by BILLA was met with great enthusiasm by participants and spectators alike. Twenty-five teams competed against each other in three performance levels on three courts at the Lower Austria Sports Centre in St. Pölten. With 300 footballers from six federal states, the tournament set a new participation record. For the first time, two clubs from Germany, TSV 1860 Munich and Hannover 96, also took part in the cup. The winners in the three performance levels were Blau-Weiß Linz (Champions), TSV 1860 Munich (Challengers) and SC Pötzleinsdorf (Stars). FK Austria Wien violett won the Kids Cup.

Nikolas Karner, SPIELERPASS initiator: ‘With the SPIELERPASS CUP presented by BILLA, we offer players an opportunity to fully pursue their passion for football. The fact that the cup has grown beyond Austria's borders to Germany and has set a new participation record this year makes us incredibly proud and reinforces our commitment to the project.’

Stefan Weinlich, BILLA Sales Director in Lower Austria: ‘At BILLA, we live for diversity, community and inclusion. That's why supporting the SPIELERPASS CUP is a matter close to our hearts. Seeing how enthusiastic the players are is simply wonderful. It was a special day marked by the joy of movement and team spirit.’

Prominent referees on the pitch

As in previous years, former professional footballers took part in the tournament: Stefan Maierhofer, Andreas Dober, Christopher Dibon, Gerd Wimmer, Walter Knaller, Erwin ‘Jimmy’ Hoffer, Georg Teigl, Andreas Lukse, Thomas Hinum and Mirnes Becirovic, as well as ÖFB Bundesliga referee Sara Telek and former tennis ace Stefan Koubek were on duty as referees and ensured fair play.

Florian Krumböck, member of the Lower Austrian state parliament: "Inclusion succeeds where people become active together. The SPIELERCUP is a wonderful example of this – a place of coming together and cooperation. I would like to thank BILLA for its support and I am deeply impressed by the athletes who demonstrated their skills and achieved great things here."

Heinz Hauptmann, City Councillor for Sport in St. Pölten: ‘The SPIELERCUP presented by BILLA impressively demonstrates that sport knows no boundaries. The passion, team spirit and joy of the game unite us all. I am proud that the tournament is taking place here in St. Pölten. Our city stands for community – and that is exactly what you can feel here on the pitch.’

Inclusion as a corporate value in practice

At BILLA, people are at the heart of everything we do. Nearly 1,000 employees with disabilities contribute to the company's success every day. In addition, the food retailer works closely with partners such as Rainman's Home to implement numerous initiatives that make shopping easy and enjoyable for everyone. These include barrier-free shopping trolleys for wheelchair users, a ‘quiet hour’ in selected stores for people with autism, and largely barrier-free services that ensure an inclusive shopping experience.