Trial against GAK hooligans: thugs or innocent fans?

Trial against GAK hooligans: thugs or innocent fans?

On March 27, 2025, the trial began in Graz against 21 supporters of the Grazer AK (GAK), who are accused of violent clashes after a Bundesliga game last summer. In the incident, which occurred after the game against Blau-Weiß Linz on August 17, 2024, around 50 GAK fans are said to have moved into the city center to look for so-called Sturm fans. Prosecutor Ines Eichwalder describes the defendants as a “group of thugs” who use football as a cover for violence. During the attack, at least two people were knocked unconscious and a bystander suffered injuries from a glass bottle.

The group of suspected GAK supporters, who are up to 47 years old and mostly come from Styria, were masked and equipped with gloves and mouth guards. At Dietrichsteinplatz, where the GAK fans met three Sturm supporters, one of these Sturm fans was attacked so severely that he was beaten unconscious and kicked. Escape was also risky for others present; one of them was attacked with a beer bottle, while another man was beaten up outside a supermarket.

Accusation and defense

The accusation is of serious communal violence. The defense doubts that individual guilt can be proven and argues that the gathering was not specifically aimed at violence. Many defendants remained silent during the preliminary proceedings, and some vehemently denied the allegations. It is also questioned whether there was even a “conspiracy to commit violence”, as it is said to be common practice to go home in groups after a game.

The trial, which takes place in the jury courtroom, is scheduled to last a total of five days. A verdict is expected at the end of next week. The expected punishment range is up to two years in prison for the defendants, although up to three years in prison is possible for alleged ringleaders.

Such violent incidents are a warning signal for society. Experts emphasize that there should be no place for mixing sport and violence in this form. Further information about violence prevention in the context of football is provided at Violence prevention.

The possibility of criminal prosecution is not just a question of individual cases, but also affects the entire fan community and the public's perception of football. It remains to be hoped that the trial in Graz not only brings a fair verdict, but also serves as a precedent for future incidents of this kind.

For more details on this process read Laola1 and courier.