Football ban: Centralization causes trouble at fans in Magdeburg

Football ban: Centralization causes trouble at fans in Magdeburg

In the Bavarian capital of Munich, a football security conference recently took place, in which measures to combat violent acts in football were discussed. Active actors from sport and politics agreed on a tighter handling against individuals who are prone to violent incidents, while collective punishments for fans, as feared, remain excluded.

The meeting, which took place at Munich Airport, led to a decisive result: the establishment of a commissional position that is intended to pronounce and control stadium bans in the future. This new central instance is operated by the German Football League (DFL) and is intended to ensure a more uniform handling of the stadium bans. Herrmann from the CSU commented on this development that the clubs will no longer be free to assess whether and how they initiate procedures.

reactions of the fan organizations

The reactions to the results of the conference are mixed. In particular, the fan organization of the 1. FC Magdeburg was disappointed with the decision to centralize the stadium bans. In a statement on the "X" platform, the fan aid said that this new regulation would represent a significant tightening and more repression against fans. According to fan aid, many stadium bans are already arbitrarily imposed and are often done without any legal procedures.

They also underlined that DFB and DFL are often unable to assess incidents appropriately because they are too far from the event. "The tightening contradicts the rule of law and we fans will protest," said a representative of the Magdeburg fan help. This criticism reflects the displeasure that there is among many supporters due to the lack of a say.

no accommodation in pyrotechnics

Another topic of the conference was the controversial use of pyrotechnics in the stadium. The uniform opinion of sports representatives and politicians is that the use of pyrotechnics remains strictly prohibited. DFL supervisory board head Watzke emphasized: "It is simply dangerous", and warned the clubs to take responsibility as an organizer.

Despite the previous discussions, 13 clubs had campaigned for a reform of the existing penalty catalog to enable player storms in pyro inserts if necessary. However, the 1. FC Magdeburg held back in this debate, which also had a negative impact on the reactions of the fan association.

The fan organization "Our curve" sharply criticized that there was no loosening in connection with the pyro use. They commented frustrated about dealing with the topic: "It has now occurred exactly what was predicted by fan side - populist demands are being trombarded, but it is not possible to recognize any expertise if you do not talk to each other, but only."

The course of this conference shows that despite the demands of fans and clubs, for more dialogue and understanding, the centralized measures also bring significant challenges for future discussions in the football context. The developments are closely observed by the fans and the clubs, while sport continues to try to find a balance between security and fan experience.

For more information on this topic, you can use the current reporting on Magdeburg-fussball.de view.