Chaos at the game: XXL interruption in Jena causes excitement!

Chaos at the game: XXL interruption in Jena causes excitement!

On September 27, 2025, there was an XXL game interruption in the regional league game between FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Chemnitzer FC, which caused a lot of discussion and confusion. The encounter began with a ten-minute delay, which was caused by a choreography that was scheduled at short notice in the south curve. Although the choreography was approved, the exact execution was not communicated, which ultimately led to safety concerns.

The Jena public order authority intervened and determined that the escape and rescue routes were endangered by plastic films. The kick-off was therefore not prohibited by the referee or the club, but by a representative of the city. Security Mayor Benjamin Koppe pointed out that the problem with blocking flags and banners had been known for some time. There had been no sanctions in the first three home games as they were classified as harmless “green games”, but the increased risk in the game against Chemnitz got the matter rolling, as was the case MDR reported.

The escalation concept

In order to identify potential dangers and react to them, the association had developed an escalation concept. The organizer and not the authorities acted during the interruption itself. This decision caused confusion as the club claims the suspension was on government orders. This puts communication between those involved to the test and shows how important clear guidelines are.

For the Jena supporters, the upcoming game against 1. FC Lok Leipzig on October 1, 2025 could represent an exciting challenge. Stadium security will continue to be a hot topic, especially after the events against Chemnitz that shook up everyone involved.

A look beyond Jena

The debate about safety at football matches does not appear to be an isolated case. In October 2024, the interior and sports ministers as well as representatives of the DFB and DFL met in Munich to discuss security aspects in football. The aim was to maintain the high level of security in stadiums and at the same time reduce the number of police deployment hours if necessary. According to a representative fan study, 96 percent of stadium visitors feel safe during a match day, but the DFB and DFL recognize the need for action to create even better conditions [DFL].

In an explosive sporting environment, dialogue between clubs, fan organizations, police, authorities and politicians remains crucial. The establishment of an expert commission for stadium safety and the review of a central stadium ban commission are just some of the measures that are intended to contribute to increasing safety. The ongoing challenges at FC Carl Zeiss Jena are therefore part of a larger puzzle that could affect security in German football.