Controversial police operations on the one hand, fan violence on the other. The Bundesliga continues to struggle with the conflict between supporters and security authorities. There is no improvement in sight, even though the “sports violent offenders” file is at a record low.
The relationship between police and football fans remains strained. Incidents also occurred regularly around Bundesliga stadiums on the first matchdays of the current season. Sometimes it is violent fans who fight at train stations, sometimes it is controversial police operations that fuel the conflict.
Brawling fans, controversial police operations
For example, supporters of Borussia Dortmund clashed with supporters of VfL Wolfsburg and HSV fans, among others. During the Lower Saxony derby between Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig last weekend in the 2nd Bundesliga, the game had to be interrupted for several minutes because fireworks were shot onto the field from the corners. A police officer is said to have been seriously injured after a scuffle.
On the other hand, there have been repeated controversial police operations in recent weeks: During the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1. FC Cologne, the police used pepper spray extensively. According to the police, to organize access again. The Cologne Fan Aid then spoke of several injured FC fans. According to FIFA regulations, the use of pepper spray is prohibited in the stadium.
During the game between FC Augsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, a shot was fired from the weapon of a police officer from the special unit “USK”. The shot was apparently accidental and no one was injured. The Augsburg public prosecutor’s office investigating the matter does not currently want to provide any further information given the ongoing investigation.
Bayern’s fan aid organizations make demands on politicians
For Benedikt Engler from Fanhilfe Augsburg, this incident is just the visible tip of the iceberg in the “criminalization of football fans”. But the shot highlights “the problems that arise in connection with football games.”
Fan aid supports supporters on match days and beyond in conflict situations with the police and in exercising and enforcing their civil rights. In Bavaria, fan aid organizations have now turned to politicians with various demands. Under the motto “Strengthening fan rights” they are calling for a rethink in how we deal with football supporters. Among other things, what is required is an identification requirement for police officers and the establishment of an independent complaints office for victims of police violence.
Data storage by fans remains a point of contention
The controversial “Sports Violent Offenders” file and other data collections also continue to be criticized. There are currently fewer than 6,000 football fans registered there, fewer than ever since the controversial police database was introduced in 1994. The Sportschau published these figures exclusively in October.
A reform of the DGS was also firmly promised in the federal government’s coalition agreement. However, according to Sportschau research, this reform will not come until the 2024 European Championships in Germany. The Federal Ministry of the Interior only responded to a corresponding request after the first publication of this article, but left the question of possible reform of the file unanswered. However, the ministry plans to introduce the agenda item “File violent sport perpetrators” into the 2024 spring meeting of the Interior Minister Conference committees.
Reform of the “Violent Sports Perpetrators” file not before the EURO
From a fan support perspective, a reform of the file would help to achieve relaxation on match days and a general improvement in the situation for football fans. “From our point of view, it is very regrettable that the promised reform of the violent sports perpetrators file is still a long time coming,” says Benedikt Engler from Fanhilfe Augsburg.
However, according to Sportschau information, there is already an evaluation report on the “Sport Violent Perpetrators” file. Last summer, the State Office for Central Police Services NRW (ZIS), which is responsible for the file, expected this report to be published. When asked again, the authority now writes: “Since the report is classified as classified information (“for official use only”, VS-nfD), it will not be published.”
The justification is that if it is not classified as classified information, police tactical content could become public. This is detrimental to the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“From our point of view, this is incomprehensible. In the interests of transparency, the report should be made available to the public,” says Engler, who describes “data storage” as one of the biggest points of contention in the conflict between police and fans. This point of contention remains for the time being.
Disclaimer: The statement from the Federal Ministry of the Interior was added later because it was only available after the editorial deadline and publication of the first version.