Even in the first half, supporters from both sides had set off isolated flares, prompting the stadium announcer to issue warnings. However, the protest escalated at the start of the second half: a large banner with a crossed-out DFB logo was passed across the opposite stand, and dozens of placards accused the association and the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) of populism and lack of transparency. “We fight against everything you stand for,” read a banner in the VfB block, while both fan groups chanted “Fuck DFB!” in alternating calls.
The smoke was so thick that referee Sven Jablonski had to stop the game. The stadium announcer called in vain for an end to the pyrotechnics. A spokesman for the Berlin police told Tagesspiegel of “numerous violations of the Explosives Act,” but stressed that the organizer is primarily responsible for preventing such incidents. The number of arrests related to pyrotechnics was negligible; video footage analysis often takes weeks.
Apart from the pyrotechnics, there were hardly any incidents, according to police. In recent months, there had been frequent protests against planned tightening of security measures in stadiums. Fan associations see no reason for stricter rules, as German football stadiums are very safe, and fear a threat to their fan culture.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
