- Minister Behrens continues to push for exclusion of guest fans
Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens still considers excluding away fans from derbies between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 to be the "right approach" to curb violence in football stadiums. "My stance is to order the exclusion of away fans for the next Lower Saxony derby in Braunschweig," the SPD politician said. In the past, matches between these clubs have often been marred by violent incidents.
Behrens had invited Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, 2nd division clubs Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig, and 3rd division club VfL Osnabrück to a roundtable discussion. Wolfsburg withdrew their participation in the morning, as fan representatives were not welcome at the meeting.
"I'm not against fans and ultras, I'm against violence"
In response to this accusation, Behrens said, "I'm not against fans and ultras, I'm against violence." The minister emphasized that she is also against the use of pyrotechnics, which "are used as weapons."
There was no concrete outcome. Until the start of ticket sales for the match between Braunschweig and Hannover at the beginning of October in the Eintracht Stadium, there will be a window for further discussions. However, Behrens made it clear: "A continuation of the current situation or acceptance of these conditions in the stadiums is not an option for me."
Eintracht President Nicole Kumpis and Marcus Mann, sporting director of Hannover 96, spoke of a constructive exchange. Kumpis presented a proposal to the group, with the aim of hosting the derby with away fans.
Behrens proposed that the upcoming derby between Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig should be played without away fans, citing past instances of violent incidents in these matches. Despite this, she expressed her desire to engage with fans and ultras, stating, "I'm not against fans and ultras, I'm against violence."
