After a second Meeting with the German football Federation Fan Alliance announces the talks. Two of the participating supporters from criticising, in an Interview with BVB-Fanzine in the approach of the associations.
The talks are over (for now). The issue, however, is not (done yet). On The Contrary. The protests of many German football fans to counter the increasing alienation and commercialisation by the German football Association (DFB) and German football League (DFL) should even be intensified. But what is the common exchange between the associations and the Fan Alliance failed after only two Meetings?
In an Interview with the independent, Borussia-Dortmund-Fanzine chat yellow two active BVB have described Fans involved in the talks with the DFB, and how the discussions were organized, what they brought and what was not achieved – the upper level also. “It babbles, and does not come to the result. This is actually what we have observed for decades. You can see the of the Association, probably as a great power, that you go to the base down to keep them quiet,” says Nicolai, a member of The Unity, of the biggest Ultra-group of the Dortmund South stand.
“Not the lowest common denominator”
“If you go in a conversation, then people like the chief of the press communication that says in four hours, a single word sitting there, then workers, who contribute nothing to sit there Social. Then Mr. Grindel and Mr. Koch play around on their phones while you are talking with them, looking at the Person. This has to do with a normal conversation, nothing more. And as we have noticed in the discussions that we come to the lowest common denominator, I’ve asked myself: Why am I here?”, Nicolai explains.
For years dedicated followers of the DFB are trying to voice their concerns. So far without much success. It is, among other things, binding rules to the allowed banner sizes in the stadium, to pyrotechnics, safety issues or, more generally, to voice the trailer. And it goes to the very big topic: the increasing commercialization of football. The Fans don’t feel taken seriously.
Riots, Looting, Injured
Dynamo Dresden supporters at the away match in Karlsruhe in may 2017
Seriously, it was, as the supporters of Dynamo Dresden, the make already for years again and again by rioting negative attention, in may 2017 in the away match in Karlsruhe declared the DFB, the “war”. In Camouflage clothing with the inscription “Football Army Dynamo Dresden” stormed the entrance, ransacked food stalls – were injured, according to police, 21 and 15 police officers. As a result, the DFB sought to the conversation with the Dynamo Dresden Ultras. But came to the scheduled Meeting of 30 representatives of fishing, surprisingly, groups from all over Germany.
“Cooking [Rainer Koch, the DFB Vice-President, Anm. the Red.] was very ignorant and arrogant, if, of course, surprised by the Situation, you have to keep him Good, but he is very far away from the base,” said Christian, also like Nicolai, a member of The Unity. “He has always tried to push us into a corner, has also a lie, obviously, and is not at all addressed to us. After half to three quarters of an hour, he then said ‘you are actually only pyrotechnics’, which led first to a loud laughter and Mutterings. Because we felt screwed us over quite a bit and have noticed that hardly any interest in the real problems listening to it.”
“Lack Of Appreciation”
In spite of the failed communication is a part of the fan base decides to stay with the DFB, in contact, working out position papers. “You must also realize that we do everything on a voluntary basis and develop, in part under the consultation of lawyers, that we invest the right time for such concepts – and then you can hear three months of the associations that are officially organized at all,” says Nicolai. “This is not a good sign, especially when trying to phrases like appreciation and eye level. This is simply unprofessional. There was no feedback until we are then sent back to the associations.”
The second Meeting had not been better than the first, especially the presentation on the part of the DFB was not the case in the two BVB-supporters. “That was hingerotzt a piss-take, easy. The content was weak, the treatment was weak, the presentation was disastrous,” recalls Nicolai. In the official statement of the reasons for the termination of calls on the part of the Fan Alliance, the following occurs: The DFB and the DFL, neither the value of this outstretched Hand the fan scene in Germany, yet the consequences of this lack of appreciation of the base in the stadiums were not “aware.” And further: “Instead, much more manifested in the impression that the football sport is supposed to be further deprived of its social and cultural roots to him on the Altar of the greed for profit of the associations to exclude.”
“We want to change something”
Peaceful Protest against the DFB in the DFB Cup between SV Linx and 1. FC Nürnberg
At the request of the DW, the DFB wanted to make a statement, he referred to a Press release from last week. The football Association expressed “Regret” about the decision of the supporters of the talks to withdraw, especially given the intensive and critical exchange last Winter, that was considered open and constructive. The DFB and the DFL will stay open for the exchange of opinions and ideas with fan groups, it said. “Every exchange must be objective and fact-based. Generalized allegations against the organizations or individuals are not productive.”
Meanwhile, a large part of the active fan scene is working on a new Protest action. As the new season began last month with the first round of the DFB Cup, were read in many stages of a Transparent with the inscription: “you will hear from us!” In what Form will be, not to betray the two BVB-supporters. “We all have Jobs and we all have a private life”, they said. “We want to change something, but the Form of the Dialogue must change. We are definitely flexible and creative.”