The German Football League (DFL) is facing pressure from politicians and the police union here to act in the wake of rioting between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 fans at the weekend.
Clashes between rival fans and police in Dortmund before Schalke earned a 2-1 win at Borussia on Saturday in the German league left 11 people injured, including eight police officers, and led to 180 arrests.
Dortmund police say the violence was the worst they have seen in years having had to use pepper spray and a water cannon to break up rioting during several separate incidents with 1200 officers deployed for the match. The DFL’s security commission met in Frankfurt on Monday to discuss the issue ahead of the midweek Champions League group game between Real Madrid and the German champions in Dortmund.
“The riots show clearly that the time for action is now,” politician Lorenz Caffier, leader of the German conference of state interior ministers, told magazine Sport Bild. “Despite extensive discussions with fan groups in the summer, it has manifestly failed to stem violence in football stadiums.”
Police say the violence had been organised by hooligans, known as ‘ultras’ in Germany, from both clubs and a group of 600 Schalke fans was attacked by masked Dortmund supporters en route to the stadium which led to police intervention.
