The mystery of the thugs: Why did the Bayern squad attack the lions in the middle of Sendling? © IMAGO / Eibner / Eibner
The street battle between violent supporters of FC Bayern and TSV 1860 Munich continues to make waves. How did this happen?
Munich – For a long time, the rivalry between TSV 1860 and FC Bayern was quiet. Last but not least, the sporting gap between the Giesinger third-division club and the perennial champions from the Bundesliga ensured that little or nothing was heard of fan conflicts. Until the last.
Brawl in Munich's Implerstraße: Bayern fans attack Löwen supporters
As the Munich police headquarters announced, there was a mass brawl in Implerstraße on Sunday around 22:15 p.m. According to the latest information from the police, both troops were roughly 60 men present. Videos show masked people armed with percussion tools, presumably FC Bayern supporters in white, attacking darkly dressed Lions fans who had just returned from their team's away game in Essen.
You can see how the fists fly between the two parties, a lion fan lying on the ground gets punches and kicks. When sirens are heard, the scene dissolves and most of the thugs flee.
But how did the attack come about? Investigations are being carried out in all directions, it was said on Tuesday when asked. As our editors reported, the police assume that the brawl could have been arranged. This, however, would be at least atypical. The fact that supporters of various football clubs meet for brawls happens again and again throughout Europe. Most of the time, however, such "field fights", as they are called, take place far outside – in fields. Or in the forest.
Bayern squad probably lay in wait for the Lions fans
There are two reasons for this: Firstly, the beating teams regard their activity as a sport that has its justification if it does not affect anyone else. On the other hand, many of these struggles would not be tolerated. So discretion is important so that the police do not suddenly appear as a surprise guest on the sidelines of the fighting. It is therefore rather unlikely that both groups would meet in the middle of the densely populated Sendling and thus accept a fuss.
It is more likely that the ruffians of the Reds deliberately ambushed the Blues. It is well known that the active fan scene of the TSV plans their choreographies in the nearby Sendlinger bunker, possibly they also store their material there: drums, megaphones, flags and fence flags – sanctuaries of every ultra group. It is common practice for the textiles to be picked up together and returned together after the games. All in larger groups, as raids with the aim of stealing material are not uncommon. Similarly, in 2011, the FCB scene lost its banner "Südkurve – Heart and soul of our club", which was later presented and torn apart by the Ultras Nuremberg.
Whatever the outcome of Sunday, if only one side had planned the brawl, it should have been easy to calculate the approximate time when the Löwen ultras would arrive back in Sendling. (jals)