Hooligan attack in Gera: Where are the police to protect our fans?

Hooligan attack in Gera: Where are the police to protect our fans?

An incident in Gera is causing concerned voices and investigations. On October 13, 2025, a 38-year-old was killed, according to a report by MDR Victim of a violent confrontation that apparently has a political and sporting background. The man was attacked by a group, brought to the ground and a fans' scarf was snatched from him. The incident took place in the city center and the police searched for the group of perpetrators, but without success. The 38-year-old suffered minor injuries while the investigating authorities initiated proceedings against unknown persons for breach of the peace and robbery.

Investigators are now faced with a number of questions. Who is behind this violent group? One investigative approach leads to a year earlier, when a similar attack took place on a fan of FC Rot-Weiß-Erfurt. At that time, a suspect from the FC Carl Zeiss Jena fan environment was identified, which fueled the debate about hooliganism and violent behavior at sporting events. A man was attacked at the Eichelborn rest area, also because of a visible scarf. Here the attackers demanded the handover of the scarf and damaged an uninvolved vehicle.

Breach of the peace – what’s behind it?

The incident also raises questions about the legal consequences. As in the Gera incident, investigations into the breach of the peace represent massive challenges for the police. According to Section 125 of the Criminal Code, this crime describes acts of violence from a crowd that are directed against public peace or order. Such an act can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine, depending on the severity of the incident and the involvement of the perpetrators. Particularly serious cases can even result in up to ten years in prison if, for example, the use of weapons or serious bodily harm is involved Specialist lawyer clarifies.

In the context of violent groups, it becomes clear that such clashes at sporting events are not an isolated case. Such incidents have increased in recent decades. To counteract this, various measures were introduced, such as the Hooligan Concordat and the “Good Hosting” strategy. These aim to welcome fans safely and reduce violence. The Violence at Sporting Events Research Center has set itself the task of analyzing such incidents and developing preventative measures, as a look at the work of the University of Bern shows. International exchange and the identification of best practices are part of these comprehensive strategies.

Finally, it is to be hoped that the investigation into Gera's case will quickly produce results and that effective measures will be taken to prevent such violent incidents from recurring. Witnesses from the area are called upon to contact the police to shed light on the matter. The increasing violence in the stadiums and beyond is an important issue that not only the security zones in the cities, but also society as a whole must face.