The explosive Rhine derby between the 1st FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf not only caused discussions on the lawn. The FC fans showed a controversial choreography with a knife. FC sports director Christian Keller took a position after the game and explained why the club approved them.
The heated neighborhood duel between the 1st FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf ended 1-1 after a late marketer shock for Effzeh.
In the middle of it was also world champion Lukas Podolski, who cheered on his ex-team from the south curve in the standing area. At the beginning of the game, that fan curve showed an irritating choreography.
1. FC Köln – Fortuna Düsseldorf: choreography irritated
You could see a man in the FC suit (the face can also be seen on the logo of the ultra group Wilde Horde), who puts a knife on his neck to the goddess of luck. Including the banner: “Happiness is not a gift from the gods”. Many were bothered by the motif, found it tasteless – especially in times of frequent knife attacks in Germany.
FC sports director Christian Keller confirmed that the choreo was registered in advance and nodded off the club.
The most important thing for an emotionally charged derby is “that it is peaceful and safe,” he said after the game and emphasized that this was the case on Sunday, except for the incidents on the journey of the Fortuna Ultras (300 fans were from the Police stipulated and returned home) and mobbing on the north grandstand. “Otherwise nothing.”
“Then you have to see: if the rivalry should only take place on the pitch that you make concessions at another corner, regardless of whether you like it or not,” said Keller. “Now you can argue excellently about the motif of the choreo. For me, this is the rivalry of two active fan scenes, which is so normal in this culture. It is something different whether it then likes the Otto normal consumer.”
Keller: “Then I can live with it”
At the same time, he made it clear: “If I wanted a motif, another would be on it.” But if this is the only critical complaint with such a derby, “then I can live with it.”
How does the process work? “The motif is registered with the overall choreo. Then there is a decision whether we approved it or not,” said the FC boss. In the event of a decision per approval, security is the top priority. “We decided to approve it.”
You have seen nothing “discriminatory” or a “call to violence” in the choreo. “We could live with it. We didn’t find it beautiful.” He did not want to go into further details about the dialogue with the fans.