Painful setback for Austria fans: Conviction for vandalism!

Painful setback for Austria fans: Conviction for vandalism!

In a legal dispute, two SV Austria Salzburg supporters were convicted after they caused significant damage to property as part of a smear campaign near the Red Bull Arena. This incident occurred in January when the two fans, aged 23 and 31, were charged with aggravated criminal damage. The total damage amounts to around 6,500 euros, which leads to high fines and claims for damages, as laola1.at reports.

The 23-year-old first defendant, who was previously blameless, must pay an unconditional fine of 2,160 euros. His accomplice, a 31-year-old with several previous convictions, received a fine of 5,760 euros and a conditional prison sentence of ten months. Public prosecutor Marcus Neher was critical of the defilement of the infrastructure in Salzburg and emphasized the need to punish such acts.

Rivalry between fan camps

The smear campaign should be understood in the context of an intense rivalry between the fans of SV Austria Salzburg and FC Red Bull Salzburg. The younger of the two defendants stated that previous graffiti and stickers from Red Bull in Maxglan, the Austria Salzburg location, were the background to his actions. According to krone.at, this rivalry also led to another incident in which an Austria Salzburg supporter threatened a Bulls supporter and attacked a neighbor when she attempted to intervene during a home league game on November 2, 2024.

The defendant in this second case, who is part of the fan group “Union Ultra”, confessed and asked for an apology. As a result, he received a fine of 4,680 euros. The psychological consequences for the victims are serious; Both women are undergoing psychological treatment and report fears.

The dark side of fan culture

These incidents shed light on the problematic aspects of fan culture in football. In view of increasing violence and aggression among fans, the question arises as to how such problems should be dealt with. Deutschlandfunk analyzes developments in fan culture and emphasizes that complete pacification at football games is an unrealistic expectation. Many clubs, such as 1. FC Köln, are seeking dialogue with their ultra group to reduce tensions over issues such as pyrotechnics and security measures.

The financial consequences of riots are also significant, as clubs have to pay for police operations and possible penalties. However, the question remains as to how the two sides—fans and security forces—can communicate with each other in the future to reduce violence in football.