Police Costs Case Decision: Victory for Bremen
The Federal Constitutional Court Verdict: DFL on the Hook for Bremen's High-Risk Matches
Today sees a major shift in responsibility for public security costs, with the German Football League (DFL) declared accountable for high-risk football matches in Bremen. This verdict could set a nationwide precedent, as reported by the Federal Constitutional Court.
Since 2014, Berlin's been embroiled in a dispute revolving around policing costs for risky football matches. The crux of the argument rested on whether the DFL, as event organizers, should foot the bill for growing security expenses to ease the taxpayer burden.
Bremen's Interior Senator, Ulrich Maurer spearheaded the 2014 amendment to the Fee and Contribution Act, mandating profit-driven entities to shoulder these costs. However, the DFL continuously contested this, claiming that public safety is a state matter, not something private organizers should financially bear.
Recently, the Constitutional Court judge, Prof. Stephan Harbarth, Chair of the First Senate, termed this cost-sharing demand constitutionally permissible. This decision, set to impact not just Bremen but potentially all of Germany, could redefine the financial landscape of high-risk football matches.
Legal Battle Ebbs: Bremen's Victory
This ruling marks the end of a long-running saga in Bremen. Despite a setback in early 2017 when the Administrative Court Bremen ruled against Bremen's fee amendment, several rulings in favor followed. The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) Bremen and the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) in Leipzig provided support for Bremen's legal argumentation twice each. Even the presidents of the audit offices backed Bremen's position in 2021.
Interior Senator Ulrich Maurer, elated with the ruling, emphasized the financial implications. Bremen Police officers dedicate over 1.6 million deployment hours annually to Bundesliga games, accounting for 104 million euros in expenditure, which citizens shoulder through taxes. With the DFL's resources, Martiner maintained this expense could be manageable. "Our determination and unwavering stance have finally paid off," he declared.
Photo Credits:
Interior Senator Ulrich Maurer (left) and lawyer Prof. Dr. Joachim Wieland (2nd from left), captured during the ruling in Karlsruhe.
Photo: Interior Ministry
The Federal Constitutional Court's verdict has declared the German Football League (DFL) responsible for covering high-risk football matches' public security costs, marking a potential nationwide precedent in football finance. With Bremen's victory, the DFL will now shoulder expenses previously borne by taxpayers, such as the over 1.6 million deployment hours by Bremen Police officers annually for Bundesliga games.
