Safe derby atmosphere: Police praise Eintracht and Hannover fans!

Safe derby atmosphere: Police praise Eintracht and Hannover fans!

On October 26, 2025, the eagerly awaited second division game between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 took place at the Eintracht Stadium in Braunschweig. The encounter, which kicked off at 1:30 p.m., was largely calm, which pleased those responsible at the Braunschweig Police Department and the Hanover Federal Police Inspectorate. Police Chief Thomas Ring was also satisfied and explained that the police concept had worked because many fans followed the appeal to be peaceful and respectful. However, there were some incidents that required the emergency services to respond quickly.

Overall, the emergency services took numerous safety precautions. Police Vice President Uwe Lange reported a smaller number of incidents, such as the burning of Bengalos. However, after the game, two members of an aid organization were injured by a firecracker thrown, which resulted in blast trauma. Minor damage to property, such as the tearing out of seat shells in the away fan area, was also discovered. The operation was accompanied by around 1,700 away fans who arrived on a Westfalenbahn relief train and around 1,100 Eintracht Braunschweig fans who also arrived via the main train station. Fortunately, the arrival and return phase went without any significant incidents.

The escalating situation in German football

But the situation in German football remains tense and raises questions. This season there have already been escalations of violence between fans and police at 17 football games. For example, there were critical incidents at the Lower Saxony derby in Hanover or block storms in Frankfurt and St. Pauli, which further strained the relationship between Ultras and the security forces. Oliver Wiebe from the umbrella organization of fan aids sharply criticizes the police and their escalating operations since the end of the Corona access restrictions, while fan researcher Harald Lange warns of a lack of communication between fans and the police.

The fan support demands are getting louder. A ban on pepper spray in the stadium is called for, as is a requirement for police officers to be identified and the creation of an independent complaints office for victims of police violence. According to the current data, the “Violent Sports Perpetrators” file is at a record low with fewer than 6,000 registered fans, but criticism of it remains unbroken. The clashes that took place on the first matchdays of the season, such as the one between Borussia Dortmund and the police, show that a lot of change is still needed to ensure a peaceful stadium atmosphere.

The challenges for the future

Yes, the football scene is facing challenges that cannot be ignored. Jochen Kopelke from the police union points out that police operations are essential at high-risk games and that the causes of the unrest often lie in the fans' organized structures. Nevertheless, in the debate about the tension between fans and the police, the question is repeatedly raised as to whether a rethink is necessary in order to give priority to the advantages of successful communication. Fan aid advocates for a cooperation that involves both fans and security forces in the dialogue.

With the 2024 European Championship approaching, it is crucial to improve security measures and communication between police and fans - so that football can return to what it should be: a game that unites people.