Disgruntled Football Fans Voice Displeasure Over Police Interventions - Union Responds to Grievances
Footy Fanatics' Rant: Once Again, They Slam the Heavy-Handed Police Segregation
The umbrella organization for footy supporter groups has, yet again, taken the cops to task for their excessive actions against football fans. In their latest annual report, they've highlighted 24 instances during the 2024/25 season—from Bundesliga to the 2nd and 3rd leagues, and even in the local league.
Linda Röttig, a board member, voiced her concerns, stating, "Our new season report shows that the security forces are still piling on the pressure on fans even after the Home EM. Neither the quality nor the quantity of the measures can demonstrate an improvement. We urgently need a change in direction."
The German Police Union (DPolG) shot back, with the federal chairman, Rainer Wendt, saying, "Thankfully, it's not the quantity or quality of police measures that fan leaders are evaluating." He emphasized that the legality and proportion of such measures are the responsibility of independent courts.
But There's More: The Controversy Over Prevented Games
According to the supporter organization, there have been some pretty brutal cop interventions in certain cases. They lend a helping hand to fans who aim to assert their rights and fight for them in court during football matches.
The organization also voiced complaints over incidents where fans were barred from attending their scheduled games due to excessive police actions. However, the headlines have seen their fair share of violent fan actions too.
The Police Union Hits Back Hard
The Police Union (GdP) dismissed the accusations leveled by the supporters. According to federal chairman Jochen Kopelke, "The umbrella organization of German football supporter groups is attempting to discredit the diligent police work at football games."
He added, "While ultras, hooligans, and extremists have reintroduced violence into football stadiums, families feel increasingly frightened." The chairman criticized the supporter groups instead, stating they're not working with clubs to establish peaceful football environments.
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The organization claims their report only covers a portion of the excessive police measures, as not every club has a supporter group. They've also expressed dissatisfaction over being excluded from meetings of the German Football League and German Football Association. Their last annual general assembly with the fan commission, organized by the respective departments of the DFL and DFB, took place in April. (dpa)
Some Interesting Facts: Footy Violence and Law Enforcement in Germany - A Long, Bruising History
The history of football violence and police intervention in Germany dates back to the last two decades, with notable, violent incidents like:
- In June 2006: Over 300 individuals were detained after Germany's World Cup win over Poland in Dortmund due to violent fan uprising, involving chair-throwing, bottle-hurling, and firework assaults on police. Riot police identified 120 of them as known hooligans.
- In October 2006: Following violent incidents in lower-division games, a crisis meeting was convened by the German Football Association and Bundesliga presidents. In one such match between Hertha BSC Berlin's B-team and Dynamo Dresden, fans launched gas cartridges and plastic seats toward police, who retaliated with batons and pepper spray, leaving 23 policemen injured.
- In February 2007: All lower-league games in Saxony were stopped after approximately 800 fans attacked 300 police officers, injuring 39.
This ongoing history reveals a pattern of ongoing confrontations between football fans, some involved in hooliganism, and the police force, often resulting in the use of force by law enforcement.
Some More to Munch On: Recent Incidents and Police Response
Recent events include the violent stabbing attack in Bielefeld in May 2025 where fans celebrating their team's league title were indiscriminately attacked by a suspect wielding a bladed weapon. Although not directly related to police action, this attack escalated the cops' attention and intervention in football fan gatherings.
While broader European football celebrations have witnessed incidents of violence and riots, such as the tragic deaths in Paris following UEFA Champions League victory celebrations, they don't necessarily prove the police are overreacting but rather indicate the prevalence of crowd violence in general.
The Verdict: An Old Fight, or a Persistent Dilemma?
Given the documented recurring clashes, aggressive policing tactics, mass arrests, and match cancellations, the issue of excessive police action against football fans in Germany goes beyond being a new phenomenon and represents a long-standing challenge. While some police interventions may be responses to fan violence, criticisms often revolve around the scale and intensity of the police response, sometimes against large groups or even innocent supporters.
In essence, excessive police action against football fans seems to be more of a persistent predicament than a fresh trend, reflecting the intricate difficulties involved in managing football fan violence in Germany.
The supporter organization has expressed dissatisfaction over incidents where football fans were barred from attending their scheduled games due to excessive police actions, expressing their concerns about the prolonged issue of police action against supporters. separate incidents involving fans and the police, such as the brutal cop interventions and the indiscriminate stabbing attack in Bielefeld, have caught the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The police union has countered the accusations by the supporters, asserting that while incidents of fan violence cannot be ignored, the umbrella organization of German football supporter groups is not contributing effectively to creating peaceful football environments by working with clubs.
