Events

Bundesliga clubs set to cover costs for extra policing

Featured image credit: Josip Ivankovic on Unsplash

Football clubs in Germany’s top two divisions will be required to pay for extra policing during high-profile matches, the Federal Constitution Court has ruled today (Tuesday).

The court adjudged a 2014 law, which ordered clubs to pay such costs, to be constitutional. The German Football League (DFL), which organises the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, had filed a complaint against the law.

The 2014 law was introduced in Bremen. The DFL had filed the complaint due to what it viewed as “considerable doubts about the constitutionality” of the regulation.

The DFL also argued that the matter of charging fees for state services can “fundamentally affect” the relationship between a state and private organisers beyond sport.

The state of Bremen had to spend €415,000 (£350,000/$427,000) to cover extra policing for the 2015 Werder Bremen vs Hamburg derby match, which was deemed high-risk. The DFL was billed for the extra cost as the city of Bremen did not want to pay.

In the intervening years, the DFL has covered the extra cost of policing in Bremen, albeit with “reservations” and while lodging appeals against the fee notices.

In a statement released today, the DFL said: “The stadium experience at football matches in Germany is one of the safest in Europe – thanks to high investments in prevention by associations and clubs, a modern football infrastructure, effective cooperation between all network partners and valuable fan work.

“It must be a common goal to ensure the highest possible level of security at major events with the least possible number of police deployment hours. This requires continued intensive cooperation in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga between clubs and associations, fan groups, fan representatives, security officers, the state information office for sports operations, all authorities and organisations with security tasks, and the state and federal police forces. The DFL and the clubs would like to thank all of them.”

The DFL and the German Football Association (DFB) are in “constructive dialogue” with politicians over what measures can be taken to further strengthen the level of security around stadiums and reduce police deployment hours.

Currently, Bremen is the only state to charge the extra fees, but today’s ruling could lead to a wider rollout of the regulation.