Violence between BVB and Schalke fans: police warn of escalation | OneFootball

After a violent brawl between fans of Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 at Cologne Central Station, police chiefs are sounding the alarm. They are demanding consequences and greater commitment from the clubs against increasing fan violence.

On Saturday morning (November 1, 2025), a massive confrontation took place at Cologne Central Station. Supporters of FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund were involved. According to the federal police, around 6:15 a.m., about 20 people got into a fierce fight when approximately 340 fans from each side encountered each other. According to a spokesperson, the trigger was reportedly an as-yet unidentified Schalke fan who pulled the emergency brake on platform 8. Federal police officers had to separate the rival groups using pepper spray and batons. One officer was injured, and several participants suffered irritation from the spray used.

The police chiefs from Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen, Gregor Lange and Tim Frommeyer, responded to the incidents with clear words. “We note that the spiral of violence in and around the stadiums of the first and second Bundesliga has been spinning faster and faster for several months now,” they stated in a joint declaration. Time and again, “supposed ‘fans’ actively arrange to brutally attack each other.” Particularly concerning, they said, is that these so-called third-location confrontations often take place away from the stadiums, resulting in injuries to bystanders and police officers.

Mass Brawl Between BVB and Schalke: Police Announce Tough Measures

Lange and Frommeyer announced consequences: “These excesses of violence have a direct impact on the police’s trust in the scene and will have consequences.” The authorities intend to cooperate more closely across cities and states in the future to identify perpetrators and prosecute them criminally.

The police chiefs also made a clear appeal to the football clubs. “Distancing themselves from these violent groups and individuals, stadium bans, and active support of official investigations are what the clubs can and must provide,” they emphasized. Football matches should not become high-security events because of “a few hundred troublemakers.”

The brawl is part of a series of violent incidents in the football environment. In recent months, there have been repeated clashes between fan groups of various clubs. The police now see urgent need for action to stop the escalation spiral in German football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.