On the terraces: Derbies, detonators, demonstrations and databases

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.

Whereas last week’s fan culture newsletter came directly from the terraces in Dortmund, this week’s comes rather from Germany’s courtrooms and interior ministries. In Braunschweig, the Lower Saxony Derby against bitter rivals Hannover took place in front of a half-empty away end and a silent home end as both sets of ultras protested against restrictions imposed by the local authorities. While each group took to the streets of their respective rival cities to make their points peacefully, others engaged in less peaceful derby day activities. Elsewhere, there was more positive news for fans as Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court declared aspects of a notorious police database to be unlawful.

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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.