Weekend of August 2025: Cable blaze in Saxony-Anhalt and test match loss for RBL
In the realm of sports, Borussia Dortmund (BVB) is taking a legal stand against the far-right party AfD for using the club's colours in a campaign slogan for the upcoming local election. BVB believes this contradicts their values, setting a precedent in the world of football politics [1].
Meanwhile, in the football landscape, the new season has begun, but the performances of Lok and Chemie remain undisclosed. Lok, the reigning champion in the Regionalliga, has started the season with a win and a draw, while Chemie is currently struggling, having lost both of its opening matches and finding itself in last place [2].
Away from the football pitch, Germany is grappling with a series of arson attacks on railway lines. The incidents in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt are reminiscent of one another, causing significant disruption to freight and passenger rail traffic. The fires occurred consecutively at two locations between Düsseldorf and Duisburg in North Rhine-Westphalia on July 31 and August 1, and one location near Hohenmölsen in Saxony-Anhalt on August 1 [3].
Deutsche Bahn confirmed these were criminal fires, involving the replacement of several cable segments to restore rail traffic, albeit with possible delays remaining [1][2][3]. The responsibility for at least one of the fires on the Düsseldorf-Duisburg route was claimed by a far-left group called the "Angry Birds Kommando," who published a statement on the left-wing platform Indymedia. The group stated the attacks were protests against the "industrial system," describing their action as intended to cause disruption to infrastructure supporting that system [1][2][3].
Investigators suspect politically motivated far-left extremists behind the arson attacks, with the inquiry ongoing to confirm full responsibility and possibly prevent further incidents [1][3]. North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) stated that it can be assumed that "left-wing extremists" are behind the acts [1].
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig, a team in the Bundesliga, played a test match against Atalanta Bergamo over the weekend. However, the match did not go as planned for RB Leipzig, as they lost the test match, with Atalanta turning the game around in the end [4]. Interestingly, two offensive stars for RB Leipzig, Sesko and Xavi, were not in the squad for the test match, and media reports suggest they are close to a move to England [5].
In other news, Deutsche Bahn no longer allows the Colorido club to use a space at Plauen station in Saxony for events due to non-compliance with guidelines. As a result, others will now fill the space at Plauen station [6]. Unknown individuals claimed responsibility for the act on the left-wing extremist internet platform "Indymedia" [7].
The summer break has ended in most football leagues, marking the return of intense competition and exciting matches. The Bundesliga season has not yet begun [2].
[1] Bundesbahn ermittelt gegen Brandanschläge auf Bahngleise [2] Bundesliga-Saison 2025/26: Termine, Liveticker, Tabellen und News zum Start der Saison [3] Brandanschläge auf Bahnstrecken in NRW und Sachsen-Anhalt: Verdächtige hinter den Anschlägen sind mutmaßlich linksextreme Terroristen [4] RB Leipzig verliert Testspiel gegen Atalanta Bergamo [5] Sesko und Xavi nahe Englandsprüfung [6] Deutsche Bahn sperrt Colorido-Club aus Plauen [7] Brandanschläge auf Bahnstrecken in NRW und Sachsen-Anhalt: Verdächtige hinter den Anschlägen sind mutmaßlich linksextreme Terroristen
- The ongoing investigation suggests that politically motivated far-left extremists may be responsible for the series of arson attacks on railway lines, similar to the group claiming responsibility for the brand attacks in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt.
- While the Bundesliga season has not yet commenced, the world of football politics has been stirred by Borussia Dortmund (BVB) taking a legal stand against the far-right party AfD for using the club's colours in their campaign slogan.
- In contrast to the intense competition on the football field, the performances of Lok and Chemie in the new season of the Regionalliga remain undisclosed, with Lok starting with a win and a draw, while Chemie is currently in last place after losing both opening matches.
