“Massive police violence against fans”
At the top game: Hertha supporters leave the stadium
01/17/2026 – 11:23 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Before the top game in the 2nd Bundesliga, fans and police clash. There is an oppressive atmosphere in the stadium afterwards.
Massive protests overshadowed the top second division game between Hertha BSC and FC Schalke 04 (0-0). Numerous Berlin fans left the Olympic Stadium around 20 minutes after kick-off. This is reported by a t-online reporter on site.
According to the Hertha BSC fan association, the boycott was preceded by “massive police violence against waiting fans at the entrance to the Ostkurve”. According to its own statements, the group stands up for Hertha fans “who have come into conflict with the law or the police”.
Officials provoked the fans at the entrance and made an arrest for no apparent reason. In the area in front of the fan curve, “massive violence was used without cause” against waiting fans, including “large-scale use of pepper spray”. At least 30 fans were injured and treated by paramedics. Other fans were seriously injured and treated in an emergency room.
The group writes in a press release: “This attack today in front of the Ostkurve is the sad culmination of a spiral of escalation and provocation by the police in the Olympic Stadium that has been going on for about six months.” Interior Senator Iris Spranger is “directly responsible” for the injured.
There was initially no response from the police to dpa’s request. The situation is being assessed by the operations management at the stadium. After the game, the police announced that 31 Berlin fans and 21 officers had been injured in the altercation. The police complained about massive fan violence. Several people were arrested.
No information was given about the nature of the police officers’ injuries. It was said that the fans had to be treated primarily because of the consequences of using pepper spray. Hertha announced that there had been an incident between fans and the police in front of the stadium before the game. Details would be checked.
