Borussia Mönchengladbach Supporters Face Hefty Fines for Pyro Displays
The DFB (German Football Association) dish out yet another fine to Borussia, this time for €12,000 after a DFB Control Committee indictment. The supporters are accused of playing with fire, quite literally, as they burned at least four smoking pots and eight Bengal fires during the Bundesliga clash against 1. FC Köln on October 22, 2023.
VfL can make use of up to €4,000 from this hefty fine to contribute towards security or violence prevention measures. The DFB expects proof of this before March 31, 2024. Gladbach has already agreed to abide by the ruling, making it legally binding.
The Hefty Cost of Pyros
Borussia has paid oodles of money this year to cover fines for unsportsmanlike conduct by its supporters, and things do not seem to be slowing down. In total, Gladbach has forked out €234,750 in fines in 2023 alone, with at least one more fine on the horizon.
- January 3, 2023: €28,000 fine for numerous Bengal fires set off in Gladbach's fan block before and during the match against SV Werder Bremen.
- January 16, 2023: €30,000 fine for around 30 flashers ignited in Gladbach fan block as teams took to the field in Bochum.
- June 30, 2023: €46,750 fine for pyrotechnic objects ignited in Gladbach fan block during the match against FSV Mainz.
- June 30, 2023: €87,000 fine for around 40 Bengal flares set off in Gladbach fan block before and during derby against 1.FC Köln, causing a delay of almost 4 minutes.
- September 7, 2023: €31,000 fine for 31 pyrotechnic objects (14 smoke pots, 17 Bengal fires) set off in Gladbach's fan block during the cup match against TuS Bersenbrück.
Keep in Mind...
- Borussia's pyro-related issues do not stop at the DFB fines. The club has also been faced with closures of fan blocks and restricted access to away matches due to pyrotechnics incidents.
- The football association has been cracking down on pyrotechnic displays at matches in recent years, fining teams and players heavily for unsportsmanlike conduct. Figures like RB Leipzig and Schalke 04 have also faced fines and stadium bans due to pyro abuse.
A Word on Enrichment Data
While researching the financial consequences of pyro displays, it was discovered that there have been a multitude of pyrotechnic incidents at both domestic and international matches across various football leagues. The issue appears to be widespread, affecting both players and fans. Teams like Manchester City, Barcelona, and Liverpool have also been fined by their respective governing bodies for pyrotechnics-related incidents. The total amount of fines issued due to these incidents is not exactly known but it is safe to assume that it has surpassed millions of euros worldwide. This information does not directly apply to the Borussia Mönchengladbach case but contributes to a larger discussion on the problem of pyro misuse in football.
