Explosive action at the Rhein-derby
Interior Minister Reul condemns fan choreo: “scandal”
25.02.2025 – 11:20 a.m.Reading time: 1 min.
The motif on the banner of Cologne fans in front of the derby against Düsseldorf heated the minds. Two politicians are now expressing their lack of understanding – and also accepts the club.
The choreography of the Cologne fan scene at the Rhein derby against Fortuna Düsseldorf (1-1) Last Sunday triggered tensions. A huge picture in the south grandstand of the Rheinenergie Stadium showed a man with a FC tie who holds a knife on the fighter of Glücks goddess Fortuna. Below was the sentence: “Happiness is not a gift from the gods.”
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) now sharply criticized the campaign. The “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, he said: “We fight knife power on the street every day and in the stadium is provoked with such a picture.” He asked the club to position itself more clearly: “I expect the club’s responsible persons to intervene. Instead, the matter is also being played down. This is the next scandal.”
The 1. FC Köln had approved the presentation in advance. Sports Managing Director Christian Keller said: “We could live with the motif, we didn’t find it beautiful.” One could “argue vigorously” about it, for him it was an expression of the rivalry between the fans of both clubs.
Cologne’s mayor Henriette Reker was also upset. She said, “Anyone who approves such a motive shows their ignorance of our current social situation.” In doing so, she joined Reul’s criticism.