On the terraces: Ultras launch Christmas charity initiatives as Moukoko questions reemerge

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.

Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest Bundesliga player and goalscorer, the youngest Champions League player and the youngest German national team player of all time – but those records are now increasingly likely to come with an asterisk after a new documentary appeared to lend credence to lingering doubts over the striker's real age. But it also shone a spotlight on the ruthless and exploitative world of youth scouting in football and begs the question: who are the real victims? Meanwhile, as the temperatures drop and Christmas approaches, ultra groups across Germany have been raising money and collecting donations for those in need. Pyro shows, it seems, are ultimately all about charity …

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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.