Lars Ricken addresses Borussia Dortmund Ultra boycott of Atalanta match: “Arbitrary measures that our fans don’t deserve.” | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken has had a chance to comment on the Ultra boycott of Wednesday night’s Champions League fixture in Bergamo. The 49-year-old club executive spoke to reporters at the Dortmund airport on Tuesday. 

Ricken naturally came down on the side of the fans. The BVB administrator emphasized that club supporters should have been given the benefit-of-the-doubt ahead of the forthcoming UCL match.

Lars Ricken on the Borussia Dortmund Bergamo Boycott

“We’re rather surprised by the measures currently being undertaken in Italy,” Ricken told reporters. “Of course we understand the need for police measures, but these seem highly disproportionate. Our fans are known for being capable of traveling en masse abroad to support their team.

“We’ve little understanding for such disproportionate measures,” Ricken continued. “These are arbitrary actions and our fans don’t deserve it. It will prove difficult for us without our fans but, from their perspective, we know that it’s not about their lack of interest in supporting our team.“

GGFN | Peter Weis