Soccer - Politicians and clubs want to combat stadium violence
Politicians are no longer willing to stand idly by in the face of the recent riots in German stadiums. At a meeting on Wednesday with majority shareholder Martin Kind of Hannover 96 and president Nicole Kumpis of Eintracht Braunschweig, Lower Saxony's interior minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) made it clear that the current situation is "unacceptable". Politicians and the clubs want to get to grips with the problem through a joint working group.
"We can no longer accept this development," said Martin Kind. The issue has been on the minds of the professional clubs for years. "And to be honest, we have achieved very little so far," the 96 boss added.
Politicians, police and clubs agreed on a joint approach against violent offenders. Kumpis spoke of a constructive and very open discussion. Among other things, admission controls are to be stepped up and the infrastructure in stadiums strengthened. According to the Eintracht president, camera technology in particular "leaves a lot to be desired in many stadiums".
The police union in Lower Saxony (GdP) therefore called for more video technology in stadiums. The GdP state chairman Kevin Komolka told the "Braunschweiger-Zeitung" (Wednesday) that clubs should be held more accountable, especially with regard to the expansion of video and admission technology. Komolka also called for more training for security staff in the stadium.
From Wednesday to Friday, the interior ministers of the federal states will discuss the recent violence in soccer at their conference in Berlin. A few months before the European Championship in Germany, security representatives are hoping for tougher measures against violent ultra-groups. Fan representatives, on the other hand, criticize what they see as overly harsh police action against stadium visitors.
"I am very pleased that we are launching a working group," said Behrens. The aim is to work out solutions to prevent riots like the one that occurred during the last derby between 96 and Eintracht.
During Hannover's 2:0 derby win against Braunschweig at the beginning of November, both fan camps set off massive amounts of pyrotechnics, Eintracht supporters caused damage of around 150,000 euros in the stadium according to 96 and a police officer was seriously injured in a scuffle in the home area.
But even so, the clubs seem powerless in some cases against the actions of individual fans. While Hannover recently had to pay the German Football Association 600,000 euros for pyro offenses, Braunschweig incurred costs of around 300,000 euros. "We have to develop a new culture, it has to be non-violent, if possible with little or no pyrotechnics," said Martin Kind.
The demands come at a time when many matches in German professional soccer have recently been overshadowed by violent clashes. At the end of November, more than 200 people were injured in the first division match between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. At the match between FC St. Pauli and Hannover 96 a few days earlier in Hamburg, there were clashes between the police and fans inside and outside the stadium.
According to Interior Minister Behrens, the personnel costs alone for the deployment in the Lower Saxony derby between Hanover and Braunschweig would have amounted to around 1,000,000 euros. The politician confirmed on Wednesday that the clubs' participation in police costs would continue to be "an option" if there was no improvement. So far, only Bremen has done this among the German federal states.
Homepage of Hannover 96 Homepage of the 2nd Bundesliga
Read also:
- Will he be convicted as Jutta's murderer after 37 years?
- He also wanted to kill his cousin
- With live stream! Gawkers film dying man
- Is Saarland threatened with economic collapse?
- Despite the efforts of Hannover 96's Martin Kind and Eintracht Braunschweig's president Nicole Kumpis, the issue of stadium violence in the 2. Bundesliga's Lower Saxony derbies has persisted, with pyrotechnics being a significant problem.
- The recent riots in German soccer stadiums, such as the derby between Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig, have led politicians to take action, with interior minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) expressing concern about the GDP-draining costs of police intervention.
- Martin Kind, the majority shareholder of Hannover 96, has acknowledged the club's inability to prevent the actions of violent fans, citing the fines incurred for pyrotechnics offenses as evidence.
- The Lower Saxony police union (GdP) has called for more video technology and training for security staff in stadiums following the violence, as camera technology in many stadiums was found to be "left wanting."
- After the violent clashes at the Frankfurt vs. Stuttgart match and the FC St. Pauli vs. Hannover 96 match, politicians and clubs are working together to combat stadium violence, with the focus on addressing pyrotechnics use and improving security.
- During the derby between Hanover and Braunschweig, both fan camps released massive amounts of pyrotechnics, causing damage and injuries, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and enforcement.
- Despite the recent increase in police costs during derbies, Daniela Behrens confirmed that the option of clubs contributing to police costs remains open if there is no improvement, as Bremen has already implemented in some German federal states.
- The issue of stadium violence extends beyond Lower Saxony, with numerous matches in professional soccer being marred by violent clashes, resulting in a significant impact on the GDP and public safety.
- Critics argue that the police's harsh action against stadium visitors may lead to further unrest, while fan representatives call for a more balanced approach to prevent further violence and focus on the enjoyment of soccer, rather than the destructive behavior of a few.
Source: www.stern.de
