Again and again supporters of Borussia Dortmund used away games in Hoffenheim for abuse against TSG patron Dietmar Hopp - despite a probation. That has consequences now.
Dortmund (dpa) - Borussia Dortmund is dear to the persistent misconduct of its own fans in away games in Hoffenheim.
In the next three seasons, the guest block for games between the two Bundesliga teams in Sinsheim will remain empty. In addition, a fine of 60,000 euros is payable. According to information from the German Press Agency, BVB will agree to a corresponding request from the DFB Control Committee to suspend the probation of a sentence imposed in November 2018. The ARD "Sport Show" and the "Ruhr News" reported about it first.
Accordingly, the corresponding criminal complaint has already been submitted to BVB. An objection cannot be expected due to the overwhelming burden of proof. According to their own statements, the Dortmunders took a position on Thursday. However, they did not want to comment on the topic by referring to "a pending procedure".
The collective penalty not only damages the image of the district club, but also affects it financially. Because the DFB ruling at the time stipulated, in addition to the fine, that "the TSG ... should be compensated for the financial failure". Borussia still sees a need for clarification on this point. Until the final judgment, it remains open whether the Hoffenheimers may occupy the stadium block with their own fans.
Regardless of the collective penalty, BVB reserves the right to identify individual perpetrators and to hold them liable for the damage incurred. Other clubs had already acted similarly in cases similar to the burning of pyrotechnics.
At the end of December, BVB fans had once again become conspicuous in the 1: 2 defeat of the runner-up with abuse against Hoffenheim's majority owner and patron Dietmar Hopp. For such a recurrence, the sports court of the German Football Association (DFB) had promised an outlaw.
At the trial on November 2, 2018, the Dortmund team got around a point deduction after failing to follow their own supporters in the away game in Sinsheim on September 22, 2018. Instead, the DFB sports court had imposed a three-year probation ban on the stadium. The probation period runs until June 30, 2022.
In September 2018, Dortmund fans, among other things, once again rolled out an approximately ten by ten meter banner that showed the portrait of Hopp behind a crosshair. On December 20, 2019, the banners were smaller, but no less offensive. Hopp had already obtained house bans against BVB supporters.
DFB sports court
Report on sportschau.de