Southwest Airlines eliminates fees for law enforcement personnel
In an encouraging development for the football scene in the southwest, the number of criminal complaints in the game operations of the top five football leagues has seen a significant drop of around 33 percent in the 2024/2025 season. This decrease is noteworthy, as it brings the total number of complaints down to a level not seen in several years.
Accompanying this reduction in criminal activity is a 13 percent decrease in the number of injured persons, from 145 to 132. This decrease suggests a safer environment for both players and spectators.
High-risk games, matches where violent clashes between rival fan groups are feared, have been a point of concern for authorities. However, this season has seen a marked improvement in these games' safety.
The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the federal states can charge professional football clubs for police costs. Yet, in a surprising turn of events, Thomas Strobl, the Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, confirmed that the state will not bill clubs for police costs. Instead, the state continues to rely on stadium alliances for security.
Alexander Wehrle, the managing director of VfB Stuttgart, has stated that clubs invest significantly in security. This investment seems to be paying off, as the decrease in police costs in Baden-Württemberg this season amounts to approximately the amount that could have been billed to six Bundesliga clubs for high-risk games.
Strobl also mentioned that the state has saved one million euros this season due to fewer deployment hours. This savings is a testament to the effectiveness of the state's strategies and the clubs' investments in security.
It is worth noting that the reasons behind Baden-Württemberg authorities' decision not to bill football clubs for police costs in high-risk matches are not explicitly addressed in the available search results. However, it is common practice for regional authorities to avoid charging football clubs for policing high-risk matches to encourage sporting events and because public order and safety are considered public responsibilities funded by the state rather than private entities. This policy helps ensure adequate police presence at such events without financial barriers for clubs.
Further information from official Baden-Württemberg government or police communications would be required to confirm the rationale behind their stance on billing football clubs for police costs during high-risk matches.
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Municipalities across Baden-Württemberg, following the trend of decreased police costs, have started investing a portion of their savings in sports facilities, focusing particularly on football pitches. This move aims to provide safer and better-equipped venues for youth sports, fostering a healthier community and instilling a love for sports from an early age.
In light of the improved safety in top-tier football games, regional municipalities see an opportunity to develop grassroots sports, using the reduced costs as a means to revitalize their communities and encourage an active lifestyle among the youth.
