The article discusses a soccer security conference in Munich where politicians and sports officials debated measures against violence in football. Bavaria’s Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, acknowledged that soccer does not broadly have a violence problem, yet a new central commission will oversee stadium bans. Fan associations criticized these decisions as arbitrary and populist, emphasizing that existing local ban processes have been effective. The meeting concluded without implementing collective punishments for misbehaving fans, although the ban on pyrotechnics remains in place.
Are football fans really criminals? Even Bavaria’s Interior Minister Herrmann acknowledges that soccer doesn’t inherently suffer from a violence issue. Still, politicians and governing bodies are opting for stricter measures, prompting fan associations to label these moves as populist.
During a soccer security conference in Munich, Bernd Neuendorf and Hans-Joachim Watzke listened intently to the remarks of Bavaria’s Minister of the Interior, Joachim Herrmann. After a three-hour discussion that sometimes grew contentious, the DFB and DFL leaders emerged looking less anxious and, overall, somewhat pleased. Sport and political representatives reached a consensus on imposing stricter actions against individual offenders of violence, while managing to spare fans from broader collective penalties—at least for now.
A key outcome of the discussions is the establishment of a central commission responsible for issuing and overseeing stadium bans in the future. This commission will be situated within the German Football League. Details regarding its composition and operational methods are still in development.
‘Going forward, the decision to initiate proceedings and enforce nationwide stadium bans won’t rest solely with individual clubs,’ Herrmann, who chaired the meeting as the Chairman of the Conference of Sports Ministers, stated. Politicians criticized clubs in the top three leagues for not taking consistent action against troublemakers or even appearing to back down.
‘Football Does Not Have a Broad Violence Problem’
Saxony’s Interior Minister, Armin Schuster, expressed optimism, calling the conference a significant breakthrough. He mentioned his intention to maintain regular communication with soccer officials moving forward. ‘I’m leaving Munich with an extremely positive feeling.’
Prior to the event, there was skepticism surrounding the meeting. Clubs and fan representatives accused politicians of resorting to populism. According to the DFL, 96% of stadium-goers reported feeling safe on match days. ‘Football as a whole does not have a problem with violence,’ echoed Minister Herrmann.
DFB President Neuendorf attempted to temper some of the harsh comments from politicians with a lighthearted quip. ‘No, we haven’t reached a breaking point, and we won’t,’ he said, acknowledging, however, that ‘one incident is one too many.’ He emphasized the importance of involving fans in the commission’s work. ‘We need to transform those affected into active participants,’ Neuendorf added.
Data from the Central Information Office for Sports Operations (ZIS) indicate that nearly 26.5 million people attended matches in the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2, Bundesliga 3, DFB Cup, and UEFA club competitions during the 2022/23 season. A total of 1,176 injuries were reported, including 220 involving police officers. A comprehensive review of the current 2023/24 season is pending.
Avoiding Collective Punishments
Soccer leaders successfully resisted demands from politicians proposing collective punishments, such as empty matches or partial stand closures, intended to deter violent or unruly fans. While Herrmann noted the idea was briefly mentioned, it was not further explored. In contrast, other European nations, like Italy, often close portions of stands to away fans, yet these measures have not significantly curbed rioting.
Both sports and political leaders concur that the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums remains prohibited. DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Watzke underscored the danger of such acts, stating, ‘Clubs are responsible for match organization, and we cannot allow it.’ He added that these actions detract from the essence of soccer.
Fan Associations Critique ‘Arbitrary’ Measures
In the wake of the meeting, fan associations voiced their dissatisfaction. Linda Röttig, a board member of the Fanhilfen umbrella organization, stated, ‘The formation of a central commission to handle stadium bans represents a significant tightening and increased repression against soccer fans.’ She criticized the arbitrary nature of current bans, which are often issued without proper court proceedings, and indicated that the DFB and DFL lack the proximity to evaluate incidents accurately. ‘If this process becomes even more stringent, it fundamentally contradicts the rule of law principles. Fans will firmly oppose this approach.’
The fan organization ‘Unsere Kurve’ also deemed the changes counterproductive. They stated, ‘Local stadium banning commissions have proven effective for over a decade.’ Additionally, they argued that maintaining the pyrotechnics ban is futile. ‘What we are witnessing is precisely what we foresaw—populist demands gaining traction without any real expertise. This situation arises when dialogue is minimal, and discussions only occur in the absence of mutual respect,’ commented spokesperson Thomas Kessen.