
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFL CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke are set to address safety concerns at a security summit this Friday at Munich Airport.
The summit, attended by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and interior ministers from all 16 federal states, will focus on tackling violent incidents and pyrotechnic use in football stadiums. However, a group of clubs, including some from outside the top flight, are taking a stand.
Failure to provide concrete measures may result in sanctions, including ghost games, match cancellations, and the introduction of personalised ticketing, according to Bavaria’s Joachim Herrmann, chair of the Conference of Sports Ministers.
However, tensions have arisen following the release of a position paper from 13 football clubs that make up the “Association Penalties Working Group” (AK), which has drawn criticism from both the DFL and DFB. These clubs, which frequently face fines due to the behaviour of their ultras, have expressed discontent with the current penalties imposed for pyrotechnic incidents.
The clubs involved include Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach, St. Pauli, Hamburg, Schalke 04, Cologne, Hannover, Braunschweig, Darmstadt, Fürth, and third-division side Rostock. Their spokesperson, Cologne’s sporting director Christian Keller, submitted a 14-page document to all 36 professional clubs on 27th September, which was obtained by Sport Bild.
DFL and DFB Caught Off Guard
The DFL and DFB were reportedly blindsided by the timing of this position paper, which was presented just days before the security summit. According to an email from the DFB’s security department on 1st October, the authorities were seeking clarification on how involved their network had been in the paper’s development.
It has also emerged that several members of the AK clubs, including Christian Keller and six others, sit on the DFL’s supervisory or executive boards. Yet, DFL executives Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel were reportedly caught off guard by the release of the document, which raises concerns over the DFL’s internal communications.
Contradictions with DFL and DFB Security Plans
The position paper from the 13 clubs directly contradicts the DFL and DFB’s “Stadium Security Working Group” ten-point plan, which Neuendorf and Watzke will present at the summit. This has led to accusations that the clubs are caving in to the demands of their ultras and implicitly supporting the continuation of pyrotechnics, an issue that has plagued German football for over two decades.
The document argues that penalties have not reduced pyrotechnic incidents, have placed financial strain on clubs already facing economic challenges, and have damaged relationships between clubs and their fan bases. Additionally, the paper highlights that it is often difficult to identify the individuals responsible for such incidents.
ite Opinion
In our view, this position paper represents a significant clash between football clubs and the governing bodies. While the clubs raise valid concerns about the ineffectiveness of current penalties and their financial impact, the timing and delivery of their critique appear ill-judged. With tensions already high around safety in stadiums, this move could be perceived as undermining efforts to tackle a long-standing problem.
The DFB and DFL must take these criticisms on board while also maintaining a firm stance on the importance of safety. It’s a delicate balance—preserving the passion and atmosphere that make German football unique while ensuring that stadiums remain safe environments for all fans.
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