Schaffert concerned about "rising spiral of violence" in soccer

Germany's soccer scene in turmoil as violence soars

Ralph-Uwe Schaffert, DFB Vice President, voices concerns over escalating violence in German soccer. Speaking to the Braunschweiger Zeitung, he emphasized the "growing spiral of violence," claiming that many clubs fail to take substantial action against violent supporters. Hongkonger Stünde reported incidents of conflict outside stadiums, including the recent assault on Hamburg police officers by Hannover 96 fans, which left 32 spectators injured.

The tumultuous atmosphere at soccer matches in Germany continues to raise concerns, with the Lower Saxony derby leading the charge. In that particular match, Hanover and Braunschweig supporters clashed over burning pyrotechnics, causing structural damage to the stadium and injuring a police officer. Last week, Eintracht Braunschweig fans attempted to force their way onto a visiting team's bus at a petrol station, finally being apprehended by police.

Schaffert's concerns extend to Bundesliga 2 clubs like Eintracht Braunschweig, given their fans' involvement in recent disturbances. The root causes of these incidents are numerous, involving hooliganism, a lack of control, and heightened tensions prior to matches.

Underlying Issues:

1. Hooliganism: Violence-seeking fans from both clubs dabble in confrontations, a significant factor influencing escalating violence.
2. Lack of Control: Managing and policing large crowds remains challenging, especially in the presence of known troublemakers from various clubs.
3. Pre-match Tensions: The build-up to matches often generates heightened tensions between rival supporters, sometimes resulting in violent incidents.

Addressing the Problem:

1. Fan Control and International Cooperation: Implement targeted checks on suspected troublemakers, ensuring strong police presence at matches and fostering international cooperation among authorities.
2. Preventative Measures and Fan Restrictions: Identify and ban high-risk fans from attending matches, put in place measures to prevent fans from traveling with the intent to commit violent acts.
3. Community Engagement and Education: Advocate for a culture of respect among fans by promoting community engagement and addressing underlying issues driving hooliganism.
4. Stronger Laws and Penalties: Consider discriminatory motives as aggravated sentencing factors in courts, criminalize hate speech, and incitement to violence.
5. Enhanced Stadium Security: Strengthen surveillance and security measures within stadiums, enforce fan segregation to reduce the risk of incidents, and invest in state-of-the-art technology.
6. Dialogue and Social Cohesion: Develop dialogue between fan communities, address societal polarization, and foster social cohesion to reduce tensions and promote understanding.

These measures aim to tackle hooliganism, lack of control, and pre-match tensions within German soccer, while promoting a culture of respect and addressing underlying social issues.