Pyrotechnics at the DFB CupThe finalists face six-figure fines

The pyrotechnic products and banners were displayed by representatives of both fan camps after about an hour of play. They obviously followed a coordinated choreography. The proportions were also astonishing, i.e. how many fireworks and how many banners were smuggled into the stadium. Including those that could probably constitute the offense of verbal injury. A gigantic, circular DFB logo with a red prohibition bar on which the words plaintiff, judge, executioner could also be read was particularly spectacular. It was intercepted by security guards shortly in front of the VIP stand so that the DFB dignitaries were not embarrassed to carry it on.

Uli Hoeneß calls on associations, clubs and politicians to take tough action against the “insolence”.

So many topics were addressed in the curves that it was difficult to keep an overview. They ranged from the complaint about the erosion of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression through new DFB penalty lists to the pricing of the cup final. Tickets in the cheapest fan category (45 euros) can only be found on the stadium map with a magnifying glass, it said on a banner. There were also protests against the supposedly “police state interior ministers’ conference” of the federal states, which recently focused heavily on the introduction of AI-based facial recognition and personalized tickets. The DFB was attacked in harsh words – in writing and verbally, to the annoyance of Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeneß: “It’s typical in our society that things only go in one direction. The DFB has done nothing to blame,” said Hoeneß on Sky. He called on the clubs, the DFB and politicians to “take tough action so that such outrageous acts no longer happen.”

By this he also meant the fact that TV viewers like his wife Susi complained about bad pictures. Eyewitnesses in the stadium reported that the goal on the opposite side could not be seen on the curve. “In general, we support fan culture,” said VfB CEO Alexander Wehrle. But because “football should be the focus for the 90 minutes,” he nevertheless condemned the interruption of the game. The advocacy group “Our Curve” in turn supported the “content” of the criticism from both fan camps. We can understand that she strives for strong images because “otherwise she runs the risk of not being noticed,” said a spokesman for the German Press Agency.