Growing Tensions Between Fans and Police in Germany Before Euro 2024
In the lead-up to this month's Euro 2024 group stage draw in Hamburg. The cityscape was adorned with various banners expressing dissent against next summer's Euro Cup 2024 in Germany. One notable banner declared. "Also in the hat for today's draw: police violence." For those accustomed to German football being synonymous with lively fan culture and a generally permissive approach to match-day policing, this sentiment might be unexpected.
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Nevertheless, as the countdown to the UEFA Euro 2024 enters its final six months. The rapport between fans and police is undergoing a significant and concerning deterioration. On November 25th, a disturbing episode unfolded outside Eintracht Frankfurt's Waldstadion. Resulting in the serious injury of at least 200 individuals, including fans, police officers, and stewards.
The violence erupted following an alleged altercation between fans and stewards. Escalating to an extent where police personnel were assaulted with objects such as bottles, metal barriers, and pyrotechnics. In response to the escalating situation. Law enforcement resorted to repeated baton charges. Alongside the deployment of pepper spray and tear gas to regain control of the chaotic scene.
A mere two weeks prior, a disconcerting incident unfolded during the 2. Bundesliga fixture between St Pauli and Hannover 96, marking another instance of tumultuous scenes. Riot police, seemingly intervening to quell a dispute among fans, entered the away end brandishing batons.
Other law enforcement units discharged pepper spray indiscriminately through the fence. This intervention resulted in at least 32 individuals sustaining injuries, further underscoring the escalating tensions and challenges surrounding fan policing in German football.
Euro Cup 2024: Borussia Mönchengladbach Supporters' Bus In Augsburg
Two months prior, I witnessed a concerning incident in Frankfurt where police deployed pepper spray into the away end. The consequence was that dozens of Cologne fans found themselves spending the first half of the match in the toilets. Endeavoring to alleviate the effects on their eyes.
This occurred irrespective of whether they were involved in the alleged attempts to storm the turnstiles or not. Highlighting the widespread impact and consequences of the policing tactics employed during that event. Of utmost concern, on the season's opening day, a live round of ammunition was accidentally fired from a police firearm into an unoccupied Borussia Mönchengladbach supporters' bus in Augsburg.
The police explanation attributes the discharge to officers playfully spraying each other with water due to the hot temperatures during the game. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but both fans and local politicians are raising questions about the necessity of deploying the specialist Bavarian USK unit at what was considered a low-risk fixture.
Despite concerns, authorities have been reticent in providing satisfactory answers, contributing to heightened skepticism and scrutiny. The assessment of blame for the current situation varies depending on the perspective. Jochen Kopelke, the chairman of the German Police Union, points out. "We have observed in recent months that some fans change their behavior in the authority of the police. Reject dialogue, and help to violence."
According to him, failure to adhere to simple instructions results in violent attacks on the police, characterizing the violence as both terrifying and not to be trivialized. This perspective underscores the police's stance that fan behavior and non-compliance contribute significantly to the deteriorating relationship between law enforcement and supporters of Euro 2024.
Authority In Anticipation Of Euro 2024
Bundesliga fixture between Hansa Rostock and Schalke on Sunday. The match encountered a 30-minute interruption. Schalke hooligans utilized a hammer to forcefully break down a section of plexiglass that separated home and away fans. Subsequently, they proceeded to taunt their counterparts from Rostock, exacerbating an already tense situation and leading to a significant disruption in the match proceedings.
"We should always take responsibility and not deny the potential for violence within some problematic fan groups," states Dario Minden from the nationwide supporter alliance, Unsere Kurve. "However, it's a multifaceted issue with no simple solutions. Unfortunately, as a fan, you often perceive the police as being part of the problem rather than the solution. This dynamic remains a concern, especially in the context of Euro Cup 2024."
René Lau, a Berlin-based lawyer specializing in defending football supporters, is firmly convinced that the police are asserting their authority in anticipation of Euro 2024. "Rather than remaining largely outside the stadium as they used to do, the police are increasingly positioning themselves in full riot gear directly outside fan blocks," he observes.
Lau draws parallels to a similar scenario before the 2006 World Cup in Germany, interpreting it as a deliberate show of strength, sending a message that says, "We're here, don't mess with us." This strategic display of force raises concerns about the dynamics between law enforcement and football fans in the lead-up to UEFA Euro 2024.
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The confrontations are not confined to stadiums. They have spilled over into the realm of social media, where both police and fans actively promote their divergent accounts of events. In this virtual arena, contradictions abound. A notable instance unfolded in Frankfurt in November.
Where the police initially asserted that they were dispersing clashes involving visiting Stuttgart fans. However, this narrative underwent revision, absolving the visiting fans of any involvement. The revised account stated that Frankfurt fans had. Attacked stewards attempting to apprehend ticketless individuals.
The contrasting narratives exemplify the challenges in discerning the truth amid the competing perspectives presented on social media platforms. Accounts from fan groups supported the revised version of events. While the police maintained that their officers were simply "defending themselves using basic physicality, pepper spray, and batons.
Length And Intensity
Fans painted a starkly different picture, describing a half-hour period of repeated attacks with batons and tear gas with no regard for uninvolved fans, women, and children. Following an internal investigation, Eintracht criticized the police operation, labeling it as having a "length and intensity" unprecedented in its history.
The club called for a comprehensive and self-critical analysis of the entire operation and the methods employed. Highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in evaluating the events that transpired.
Fan groups are advocating for a ban on the use of pepper spray in stadiums. Citing police statistics that show it causes more injuries than certain other items, such as pyrotechnics. Notably, pepper spray usage is prohibited by FIFA. Following its deployment against Hannover fans in Hamburg in November.
Characterized by local legal-aid groups as "an orgy of violence," the host club, St Pauli, expressed concerns about the risk of pepper spray "injuring uninvolved people" and raised questions about its proportionality. Emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of its use in football settings.
Kopelke maintains that the police perceive no problem with the "justified" deployment of tactics like pepper spray, simultaneously criticizing fans for their reluctance to engage in dialogue. He asserts that ultras prefer communication through what he deems as defamatory banners and chants.
Contrarily, Lau places the responsibility on the police, asserting. Fans are fans, and clubs are clubs. The police, with its monopoly on the use of force, is the only actor here that can de-escalate. This perspective underscores the pivotal role law enforcement plays in diffusing tensions and fostering a more harmonious relationship between fans and the authorities.
The aspiration is for de-escalation, rather than further escalation, in the lead-up to Euro 2024. Organizers envision the tournament as a celebration of football, and achieving this requires both fans and police to consider stepping back. A collective effort to ease tensions and foster a more collaborative environment is crucial for ensuring that Euro Cup 2024 becomes a memorable and positive celebration of sport.
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