SV Waldhof has to pay 160,000 euros - fans cause trouble!

SV Waldhof has to pay 160,000 euros - fans cause trouble!

Cottbus, Deutschland - In a remarkable decision, SV Waldhof Mannheim must pay a fine of 159,800 euros. This sum was imposed on the association because of the unsportsmanlike behavior of its fans, such as [Regenbogen.de] (https://www.reegenbogen.de/nachrichten/dpa-baden-wuerttemberg/sv-waldhof-muss-160,000-euro-Strafe numbers) reported. The punishments result from five cases of unsportsmanlike behavior and a discriminatory incident that were documented in league games against FC Energie Cottbus and Dynamo Dresden.

The originally scheduled punishments amount to 170,335 euros, but could be reduced by an objection by the association. An incident in the game against Cottbus on December 7, 2024 was particularly noticeable, for which a fine of 110,000 euros was imposed after pyrotechnics were used. In addition, the association had to answer due to discriminatory calls and the use of pyrotechnic objects in the game against Dresden, which resulted in a penalty of 49,800 euros.

club strategies and prevention measures

The SV Waldhof can use up to 53,200 euros, which it wants to spend on violence prevention or security measures. Evidence of the use of these funds must be submitted by March 31, 2026. This is part of a comprehensive strategy of the clubs to ensure a safe and respectful atmosphere in the stadium.

But not only the SV Waldhof has to deal with the problem. Other clubs, such as FC Carl Zeiss Jena, also deal intensively with the challenges of collective penalties. In a current decision by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) it was confirmed that football clubs are liable for the behavior of their fans, which fuels the discussion about the fairness of fines. Critics of these collective penalties argue that they are perceived as arbitrary and only deepen the trenches between fans and associations, such as [Deutschlandfunk.de] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bgh-uräd-kollective-fuer-football clubs-in-der-100.html)

pyrotechnics and fansolidarity

Another discussion about collective penalties makes it clear that many fans do not want to identify with the misconduct of individuals. Thomas Kessen from the fan community "Our curve" emphasized that fans should not be punished for the misconduct of others. This perspective is shared by many fan aids, which criticize a disproportionate transfer of punishments to the group and compare them with clans

In the 2019/20 season, the DFB collected over two million euros in fines, a clear sign that this topic is increasingly popular with clubs and fans and that a solution is urgently needed. Chris Förster from FC Carl Zeiss Jena calls for a rethink in dealing with pyrotechnics in the stadium to ensure the safety of everyone involved without punishing the fans collectively. The challenges that SV Waldhof is facing are also part of a major problem in German football.