There will probably not be a quick return to normality in the ranks of the Bundesliga stadiums. A large part of the fan scene refuses to engage in dialogue with the DFB and continues to rely on confrontation.
Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - With an ultimate demand on the German Football Association and the announcement of further protests up to possible game breaks, ultras from all over Germany have ignited the next escalation level in the dispute over collective penalties.
"We fans will not just accept the practice of the last match day and, in case of doubt, will continue to accept interruptions and abortions," announced the merger "Fan scenes in Germany" in a statement.
The groups demand from the German Football Association the abolition of collective penalties and the "immediate lifting of the spectator exclusions against Borussia Dortmund", the statement continues. "This unconstitutional type of punishment cannot be reconciled with our understanding of democracy."
The DFB sports court had recently revoked a probation for BVB fans because of continued abuse and hate posters against Hoffenheim patron Dietmar Hopp and excluded all Dortmund supporters from the Bundesliga games of their club in Sinsheim for the next two years. "The real shame of the past weeks lies in the behavior of the associations, especially the DFB," criticized the fan representatives of the decision.
The Ultras also accuse the DFB of censorship because the game was recently interrupted due to posters without offensive content. Under the new president Fritz Keller "nothing has changed for the better". Rather, "from now on, all discrimination and insults should be sanctioned for the benefit of a billionaire (Hopp / Anm.)", They criticize. The DFB is also accused of not having a "serious interest in a dialogue".
There was also criticism from Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler. "I think the DFB has lost its natural authority in recent years," said the 55-year-old in an interview with the daily newspaper "Welt". "My main criticism is that the DFB has lost contact with and understanding for the majority of football fans, especially stadium visitors," said Zingler.
In his view, however, the DFB is the wrong contact in the conflict because it cannot solve the problems. Rather, it is "the clubs' very own task to organize a sensible cooperation with the fan scenes and the spectators. I think the DFB can learn from club football," said Zingler. "If he thinks he can deal with people and organizations the way he did ten or 20 years ago, it won't work." Nevertheless, he wrote to the fans in the studbook that it was unacceptable to defame people in their protests.
After the unmistakable declaration of war by the fan scene, the delicate hopes for a quick return to normalcy in the ranks of the Bundesliga stadiums, which had been fueled by a first rapprochement between the DFB, DFL and fan representatives, are now fading.
During a long conversation on Thursday in Frankfurt, in which DFL boss Christian Seifert and DFB general secretary Friedrich Curtius took part, the representatives of the umbrella organizations of German football had announced "to want to ensure greater security of action for the upcoming match day, for example by better informing the referees. But also the public ", the alliance" Our Curve "announced afterwards. The DFB and DFL had not commented on the results of the meeting until Friday afternoon.
A large part of the fan scene in the cultural struggle for football apparently relies on confrontation rather than compromise. "We are not in good faith and never were. And so we will not be blinded this time either. This is not about anti-racist engagement, discrimination, and certainly not about decency and values," said the representatives of the "fan scenes in Germany "in her statement. "It's simply about fighting our fan culture and our values."
Communication "Our curve"
Hop reaction
Legal and procedural rules of the DFB
Police report to the investigation team
Questions and answers on dfb.de.
AG Fan Cultures
DFL statement
DFB notice on collective penalties
Explanation of fan scenes in Germany