On the terraces: Karlsruhe ultras facing jail for pyro, derbies in Düsseldorf and Dresden

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.

Fines for clubs and stadium bans for fans are common punishments for using pyrotechnics in German football. Still, two supporters of second-division Karlsruher SC face even more severe consequences: jail terms. The sentences represent a watershed moment for German fan culture and the game’s mixed relationship with pyrotechnics. There were also copious amounts of fireworks on display at the Rheinderby between Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1. FC Köln, while Hansa Rostock supporters lived up to their notorious reputation away at Dynamo Dresden.

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.