Mainz and Hoffenheim supporters successfully kick start weekend of Bundesliga IMK protests | OneFootball

Mainz ultra groups and their Hoffenheim counterparts ensured that a weekend of planned atmosphere boycotts and protests got off to a successful start yesterday evening. The Friday night Bundesliga curtain-raiser featured plenty of actions and banners protesting additional footballing security protocols set to be discussed at a forthcoming summit of German interior ministers in Bremen at the beginning of next month. 

Banners reading “Totalitären Wahn stoppen” (“stop totalitarian insanity“) and “Gegen Generalverdacht” (“against generalized suspicion“) were held up at the MEWA Arena during Mainz’s 1-1 home draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The movement itself aims to protest security proposals such as ticket quotas for guest fans, personalized tickets that require I.D. for entry to stadiums, and A.I. assisted facial recognition software implemented against fans. 

Fanszenen Deutchland – an umbrella group representing German footballing fan organizations – is leading the charge against the Interior Ministers Conference. Last weekend in Leipzig, Bundesliga supporters marched through the city behind a leading banner that read “Eure Statistiken and Unsere Wahrnhemen zeigt dass Fußball ist sicher. Schluss mit Populismus und Ja zum Fankultur!“

The movement argues that longitudinal statistical data proves that violent incidents within stadiums is comparatively low across the board. The fan groups thus make the case that talk of additional measures is an overblown and misapplied form of populism. The leading banner translates to: “Your statistics and our experiences prove that football is safe. Put an end to populism and say yes to fan culture.!”

With eight top flight, six 2. Bundesliga, and nine 3. Liga fixtures left on the docket this weekend, there will be plenty more atmosphere boycotts and protest actions in German footballing venues across the Bundesrepublik this weekend. Away from broadcast cameras, fans in Germany’s Regionalliga will also be demonstrating. 

GGFN | Peter Weis