Football Bundesliga
Security debate: The club is committed to fan culture
Following the weekend protests, several first and second division teams commented on security concerns at the stadium. The five clubs of Baden-Württemberg formulated clear ideas for politics.
The five first and second division teams from Baden-Württemberg have issued a joint statement regarding the debate about stadium safety and campaigning for fan culture in German professional football. “Maintaining our unique atmosphere in the stadium and the safety of all stadium visitors are inseparable responsibilities that must not conflict with each other,” said the letter published by VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 1. FC Heidenheim and Karlsruher SC.
The clubs advocate measures that ensure security but also respect the rule of law. “At the same time, we oppose collective restrictions such as mandatory ticket personalization or blanket sanctions, which would disproportionately impact the majority of fans who are acting peacefully,” he continued.
Protests at various fan curves
The statement comes against the backdrop of a national discussion on security in German stadiums, which is gaining momentum shortly before the Conference of Interior Ministers which begins on December 3 in Bremen. There were protests in various arenas last weekend against possible austerity measures by politicians – either with a few minutes of silence at the fan curve or on banners and posters.
Fans in Germany consider the measures planned by the interior ministry to be excessive and one-sided, in particular centrally ordered stadium bans, personalization of entrance tickets and, from their point of view, comprehensive surveillance, including facial recognition inside stadiums.
A week and a half ago, thousands of fans from several rival clubs met to demonstrate in Leipzig.
Other clubs also showed understanding
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Clubs can understand the actions of supporters, but also realize the complexity of the problem. FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund bosses, among others, expressed their understanding. Second division team Hertha BSC also recently supported the fans in a statement.
In their statement, VfB, Freiburg, Hoffenheim, Heidenheim and KSC also referred to the stadium alliance used in Baden-Württemberg. As they write, a “nationally recognized and empirical model of success” in which “clubs, associations, fan projects, municipal governments and police work together in trust to ensure greater security at football matches.”
The five clubs wrote that they would support “a consistent implementation of the stadium alliance model nationally across all locations.”
dpa
