Racism drama in the third division game: DFB initiates investigation!

Racism drama in the third division game: DFB initiates investigation!

On November 3, 2025, an incident occurred in the third division game between TSV 1860 Munich and Energie Cottbus that shocked the football world. While Munich narrowly won 3-0, the game had to be temporarily interrupted after Cottbus player Justin Butler had to endure racist insults in the form of monkey noises from the stands. The referee reacted immediately and stopped the game for about ten minutes until Butler and he explained that the game could continue. This was also confirmed by a spokesman for the DFB, who announced the initiation of an investigation and informed the control committee that they would look into the incident intensively, while TSV 1860 Munich was asked to comment.

Butler said the situation was a real “shock moment” for him and was a very unwanted experience. A spectator who was identified as the perpetrator was expelled from the stadium and handed over to the police. TSV 1860 Munich has apologized to both Butler and Energie Cottbus and plans to clarify the consequences for the spectator in question and to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Measures and reactions

The incident caused a stir not only among the players involved, but also among the fans. Among the shouts from the west curve, where many fans pleaded for an open and tolerant stadium culture, was the slogan “Nazis out!”. This shows that it is not just about the immediate punishment of the perpetrator, but also about a fundamental social attitude towards racism in sport. In its statement, TSV 1860 Munich underlined the values ​​of equality and tolerance, which the club attaches great importance to.

The reactions to the incident and the subsequent investigation show how important it is to take action against racism in all forms. It remains to be seen what measures the DFB will take and how the organized fans of TSV 1860 Munich will react to the ongoing investigation. The DFB did not participate in speculation regarding possible punitive measures during the ongoing proceedings, which underlines the seriousness and confidentiality of the investigation.

Overall, this incident shows that racism in football remains a serious, pressing challenge. Awareness and education initiatives are therefore essential to promote and maintain an inclusive and respectful sports culture. The entire football community will look at the developments of this affair, which could bring not only TSV 1860 Munich, but the entire DFB into the focus of critical scrutiny.

For further details on the investigation results and the rehabilitative measures, the reporting will remain exciting over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for further updates on this important topic.

For more information about the incident you can read the reports from rbb24, BR and Mercury see.