Dispute over police costs: fewer guest fans in the Weser Stadium?

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In the debate about the assumption of police costs, Bundesliga soccer club Werder Bremen is examining the option of letting fewer guest fans into the Weser Stadium in the future. If this were possible, so-called high-risk games, which must be accompanied by the police, could be given the status of "normal" encounters.

"Do you have to reduce the guest contingents in order to possibly turn a red game into a yellow game?", Werder had brought up for discussion, said club president Hubertus Hess-Grunewald at Sport1. "If we see an opportunity for us to reduce the damage, then we have to think seriously about such an option, if it arises. I don't think anyone will take it badly."

Restrictions only possible in individual cases

The decision about the ticket contingent for guest clubs is not up to the clubs, but is laid down in the rules of the game of the German Football League (DFL): Basically at least ten percent of the stadium capacity should be available to the guest.

This can be changed in individual cases by the "final decision of a DFB legal body" in the "special danger situation", according to the rules of the game. If the home club is considering a limitation, "the reasons for this must be presented in writing to the DFB and DFL GmbH in good time before a corresponding determination."

The state of Bremen had charged the DFL with the high police costs for four Werder games, which had paid the fee notices in September with great reluctance, but passed the bill on to Werder at least half. The club failed in early December with an application for an "appropriate sharing" of the burden. The North Germans had proposed to distribute the costs to Werder, the DFL and the respective visiting club.