On the terraces: Civil war in Hoffenheim, BVB fans protest against Rheinmetall, police officer sentenced for firing bullet

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from fan protests to finances.

Fan protests against Hoffenheim benefactor Dietmar Hopp are nothing new in German football - but now they’re coming from Hoffenheim fans themselves. Rocked by sweeping dismissals, public accusations, a supporters boycott and a vicious power struggle, the Sinsheim club is embroiled in civil war as the season kicks off. Also indirectly involved in various civil wars is Borussia Dortmund’s new sponsor Rheinmetall. BVB’s deal with the arms manufacturer was the subject of widespread protest at the Westfalenstadion on Saturday, Meanwhile, in a longer-running affair, a police officer has been sentenced after firing a live round of ammunition into a fan bus in Augsburg last season.

Matt Ford's "On the terraces" newsletter will continue to appear every week throughout the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Last season, the newsletter featured exclusive and in-depth coverage of the Bundesliga's private equity plans and the political intrigues at VfB Stuttgart, among other things. If you like what you see, please consider taking out a paid subscription.

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