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The protest banner against Fifa and Qatar in the Nations League
Photo: IMAGO/Matthias Koch
Football fans unfurled a protest banner against the World Cup in Qatar during Germany's international match against Italy (5:2).
The police controlled the group.
The German Football Association (DFB) is now defending its actions with the police.
The association explains its request for police control of the fan group in a written statement with their unusual behavior.
After showing a banner critical of Fifa and Qatar, the group left the stadium "very quickly", but continued to move around the arena.
"Because of this atypical behavior and out of concern for the safety of the event, the DFB informed the police," said the association.
This responded and determined the personal details of 15 people who, according to information from the sports information service SID, were in possession of tickets.
»There will be no further measures«
Right at the beginning of the game, a group of fans had a banner that read »15,000 dead for big scenes – FIFA and Co. without a conscience.
Boycott Qatar« and then apparently left the stands quickly.
The incident and the allegedly excessive police operation caused discussions on social media after the game.
"There will be no further measures," said police spokesman Wolfgang Röthgens - accordingly, no entry in the file "violent offenders sport" initially feared by fans.
In any case, the banner is covered by the freedom of expression, the DFB has rejected the data transmission.
However, according to the police, further actions by the group could have been expected.
"The situation does not support the accusation that we acted solely on behalf of the DFB," assured Röthgens.
"It was a two-way exchange, of course we're not stooges, we look at it neutrally."
The DFB explained that it had turned out that the fan campaign "did not pose any danger".
»It is important to us to emphasize that freedom of expression is a valuable asset.
Restricting this was and is not in the interest of the DFB, "said the association.
The questions about hosting the World Cup in Qatar and the prevailing workers' rights there, »the restricted freedom of the press and freedom of expression and the situation for the LGBTIQ+ community« require a critical discourse.
"German fan culture makes a significant contribution to this, which we expressly welcome."
ara/sid