Germany’s police union, GdP, is calling for increased security measures in football stadiums ahead of the Bundesliga season’s commencement this Friday.
GdP Chairman Jochen Kopelke, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, advocated for more extensive and legally sound deployment of modern security technology, including automated facial recognition software and person scanners, particularly in areas known for passionate supporter activity. Kopelke stated that there was “no place” in stadiums for violent individuals or those engaging in pyrotechnic displays. He expressed concern that some club management appeared to tolerate such behavior, arguing that stadiums should be for “true fans, not troublemakers.
The union anticipates a significant increase in police deployment hours during the professional football season, citing past experience that police presence is essential for robust intervention against disruptive individuals. Kopelke linked the rising prevalence of antisocial behavior in society to events occurring around football stadiums, urging league officials to fulfill their responsibility to protect events by investing more in security personnel and infrastructure to complement police efforts. He emphasized that football should be free from hate speech, pyrotechnics and violence.
However, the German Fan Support Association (Fanhilfen) strongly disagreed with the GdP’s assessment. Association Chairwoman and lawyer Linda Röttig told the RND that the demands were “detached from reality” and reflected a lack of understanding of the matchday experience. She pointed out that hundreds of thousands of fans attend games weekly and that such heavy-handed measures would deter families from attending. Röttig accused the GdP of promoting “total surveillance fantasies” akin to George Orwell’s “1984”, arguing that the proposal would violate the fundamental rights of football supporters.