DFB Match in Munich: Here’s Why Part of the Allianz Arena Will Remain Empty | OneFootball

The Nations League match between Germany and Serbia on Thursday evening at the Allianz Arena will present an unusual sight. Although more than 60,000 spectators are expected in Munich, the designated visitors’ section will remain largely empty.

However, this is not due to a lack of demand for tickets. The Serbian Football Association is not permitted to offer a regular away fan allocation for the match. The reason is a sanction imposed by UEFA on Serbia back in December 2024.

As reported by *kicker*, the European soccer governing body had reacted to “racist and/or discriminatory” actions by Serbian fans. In addition to a fine of 173,000 euros, partial stadium closures were imposed for two home games at the time. In addition, UEFA prohibited the sale of away tickets for the next two UEFA away matches.

DFB Allowed to Use Parts of the Visitors’ Section

The sanction now also affects the Nations League match in Munich. The Serbian federation did not receive the usual ticket allocation for its fans. However, the corresponding sections of the Allianz Arena will not remain completely empty.

UEFA has made parts of the visitors’ section available to the DFB. The German federation can sell additional tickets to German fans there on short notice. The tickets are being offered for 25 euros.

Photo: IMAGO

In total, the DFB expects more than 60,000 spectators. This means the crowd is likely to be significantly larger than at the first two matches under national team coach Jürgen Klopp. About 51,000 spectators were in the stadium for the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, while just under 29,000 fans watched the 0-1 loss to Greece in Augsburg.

Serbian National Team Loses Support

According to kicker, it is questionable anyway whether Serbia would have fully utilized its regular visitor quota had it not been for the UEFA sanction. Back home, numerous fans are said to have recently turned their backs on the national team for various reasons.

On the field, too, things aren’t going according to plan for the Serbs at the moment. After two losses to start the Nations League, the team is already under pressure.

For Munich’s security authorities, the reduced Serbian visitor section is likely to be a relief, at the very least. The international match takes place in the middle of Oktoberfest. Additionally, riots involving Serbian fans occurred in Munich during the 2024 European Championship.

On the sports front, the focus on Thursday evening will be primarily on the German team. Following a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and a 0-1 loss to Greece, the DFB team is still waiting for its first win under Klopp. They hope to break the losing streak against Serbia in Munich.