On the terraces: 'Justice for Lorenz,' Werder Bremen anti-TV protests, Duisburg promoted

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.

The fatal shooting of a Black man by police in Oldenburg last week has sparked a debate over structural racism in Germany’s police force - including on the terraces of the Bundesliga, where fans of SC Freiburg, Bayern Munich, FC St. Pauli and others criticised the police and demanded “justice” for the young victim.

Elsewhere, Werder Bremen supporters, who have been subjected to some awful fixture scheduling this season, voiced their displeasure at the increasing influence of television broadcasters with a retro protest, MSV Duisburg were promoted back to the 3. Liga in front of over 16,000 travelling fans, and 1. FC Köln ultras kept their promise away at Hannover …

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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.