High-risk matchday: Hertha and Union take action against fan riots!

High-risk matchday: Hertha and Union take action against fan riots!

On October 30, 2025, football fans in Berlin can look forward to an exciting duel. Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin both play their home games in the Bundesliga on the same day. The Olympic Stadium is filled to capacity for the encounter between Hertha and Dynamo Dresden. Around 70,000 spectators are expected, while around 22,000 fans will be watching Union take on SC Freiburg in the An der Alten Försterei stadium. This unexpected constellation not only promises sporting highlights, but also poses major challenges for the security forces.

The Berlin police have already made extensive preparations because the potential for conflict is high. Hertha versus Dynamo, a long-standing rivalry, not only makes for exciting games, but also potential arguments among fans. Based on past experiences, the police mobilized a strong contingent of around 1,200 emergency services for the match day. “The right preparation is essential,” said Interior Senator Iris Spranger, who classifies the situation as high risk. Loud rbb24 The police have already taken special measures to separate fans in the Olympic Stadium and are asking fans not to wear the colors of the opposing team in the home neutral area.

Security precautions and traffic restrictions

Due to the expected number of spectators and the tense fan situation, additional security precautions were taken. In particular, access for visiting fans is exclusively via the south gate, while Hertha fans enter the stadium via the east gate. This should help to avoid conflicts in advance. The police have set up buffer zones between fan groups in the Olympic Stadium to defuse tensions. For the fans from Dresden who bought tickets in the home area of ​​the Olympic Stadium, the visit to the stadium could become a personal test run, as they have to move around in their fan clothing without breaking the rules. Here the police enforced a strict regime.

Deutsche Bahn is supporting the arrival of fans by increasing the S-Bahn frequency to a ten-minute frequency in order to cope with the expected number of people. But there are restrictions not only in the stadium: everyone who travels by car should be aware of construction-related closures around the Funkturm triangle on the Berlin city highway. Avoiding the traffic jams via the western Berlin Ring is strongly recommended.

The anticipation of the fans

The fan base is completely thrilled by the opportunity to experience two exciting games in one day. Hertha BSC provided 11,000 guest tickets, which quickly sold out. This suggests that around 25,000 Dresden fans will be in attendance in the capital, many of whom will have gained access to home tickets through friends and memberships. The Daily Mirror reports that everyone involved, including the police, is hoping for a peaceful atmosphere, even if they expect verbal hostility and possible physical confrontations.

The games begin on October 30, 2025 with the game between Hertha BSC and Dynamo Dresden at 1 p.m. The doors to the Olympic Stadium open at 10:30 a.m. Union Berlin meets SC Freiburg later in the afternoon - here too, the security forces' eyes are on the fans, who should ensure the right atmosphere both in the stadium and in the city.