Storm - Fan zones in Berlin closed due to squalls
Berlin: Football fans head towards Olympiastadion
Fans of both Turkish and Dutch origins gathered in large numbers in the afternoon to march towards Olympiastadion in separate groups. Initially, there were no reports of incidents according to the police.
However, during the march of Turkish supporters, the police reported that the so-called Wolfsgruß was shown massively. The train was stopped on account of this. "A fan walk is not a platform for political messages," the police stated.
The Wolfsgruß symbolizes allegiance or sympathy with the Turkish ultranationalist Grey Wolves Movement and its ideology. In Turkey, it is used by the ultranationalist MHP party, which is a partner of the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the context of growing nationalism, even representatives of the political center have recently used this sign to appeal to nationalist constituencies. An example is the former Erdogan challenger and Middle-Left Politician Kemal Kilicdaroglu during the 2023 Presidential election campaign in Germany, the Ulkuçu Movement is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Benjamin Jendro, spokesperson for the Police Union Berlin, expects a "Nonplusultra-High-Risk Game." Around 3000 officers are expected to be in action, he told the German Press Agency. Not only the known hotspots, but also numerous other points of interest had to be secured in view of the large Turkish community in Berlin.
See above in the video: Turkish fans celebrate their entry into the EM quarterfinals with nightly, red-white street parties: After the thrilling match against Austria, many supporters show euphoria – and are already dreaming of the final.
- Despite the police warnings, Soccer fans from the Netherlands and Turkey continued their separate marches towards Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, eager to reach Olympiastadion for the upcoming match.
- As the Turkish supporters passed by, Soccer fans from the Netherlands noticed the Wolfsgruß being displayed by the Turkish crowd, leading to some tension between the two groups.
- Following the display of the controversial gesture, the Soccer fan zone near the Brandenburg Gate was temporarily closed by the police, causing disappointment among the fans.
- Although the storm outside brought a squall of rain, thousands of Soccer fans remained in the fan zone, hoping that the match between Turkey and the Netherlands at Olympiastadion would go ahead without incident.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, were both present at the game, and Erdogan even made a surprise appearance in the Turkish fan zone, causing a frenzy among the Turks who had gathered there.
