Mayor Reker initiates legal proceedings against Cologne supporters.
Some Cologne soccer fans vent their frustration over city decisions by displaying a disrespectful banner, causing discord. Mayor Reker is not amused.
Cologne's mayor, Henriette Reker, has taken legal action due to an offensive banner displayed by 1. FC Köln fans during their Bundesliga game with Union Berlin. A city representative verified the news. The banner was aimed at the mayor with vulgar language.
According to the Cologne newspaper "Express", Cologne's managing director Christian Keller promptly apologized to Reker after the game. He expressed that any form of discrimination is not allowed at FC Köln, and that the protest method was uncivilized. "We apologize to Henriette Reker on behalf of all responsible individuals at the club," added Keller.
Fans, presumed to be members of the Ultra support group, hung the banner in front of Cologne's south corner during the game. This disagreement stems from an ongoing dispute over the development of FC Köln's training facility at Geißbockheim. The club intends to construct a new youth training center, three additional soccer pitches, and four public games fields on undeveloped green land behind Geißbockheim.
As a result of a citizens' protest that filed a lawsuit, the city offered the club the chance to relocate to Marsdorf, an area in western Cologne. However, the club declined the offer. The fans had recently voiced their opposition to the relocation as well. Previously, Reker supported the Geißbockheim expansion, but she eventually switched her stance in 2019 due to environmental and Green Party arguments. FC Köln was surprised and displeased by this decision. [
](http://www.ksta.de/koeln/banner-des-fc-ueberrascht-lenzen-bei-cologne-oekumenischer-kirchengemeinde-t00407474.html)
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- Despite the relocation offer from the city, 1.FC Cologne, led by managing director Christian Keller, refused to move their intended youth training center due to the fans' strong opposition.
- In light of the sexist banner incident, Henriette Reker, the mayor of Cologne, has been a vocal advocate against the discriminatory behavior of 1.FC Union Berlin's supporters in her city.
- Amidst the ongoing controversy between Mayor Henriette Reker and 1.FC Cologne, the women's team 1.FC Union Berlin secured a thrilling 2-1 win against Reker's home team in the Bundesliga, potentially adding fuel to the discord.
Source: www.ntv.de
