Minister of the Interior reacts
Fire at the derby: that’s what Behrens says
10.03.2025 – 5:42 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The Lower Sachsenidby in Hanover had to be interrupted several times on Sunday due to protests by fans. That says Interior Minister Daniela Behrens.
Referee Matthias Jöllenbeck interrupted the Lower Saxony Sender between Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig several times on Sunday. Fireworks and tennis balls flew onto the field from the spectator area. On top of that, the fans presented several banners with lettering, which were clearly directed against the partial exclusion of the guest fans.
Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) had significantly supported this decision in the past few months and had even spoken out for a complete exclusion of guest fan in the duels of the rivals last year due to the riots before, during or after the derbies.
Especially against them, the resentment of the supporters, which showed a poster with the head of Behrens in the crosshairs. On Monday, the Interior Minister took a position on the protest campaigns in the game. In doing so, she accused some of the 96 fans not primarily to have the sporting event in mind.
The “excessive use of pyrotechnics and the associated danger” of other people had again made it clear that these rioters are not concerned with supporting their team with peaceful support, “said Behrens. Rather, it is about “committing violence and riot,” she complains. “It has nothing to do with sports spirit.”
Host Hannover 96 also criticized Behrens with clear words. It was “regrettable” that the club could not have ensured sufficient security, so that the game could run out without any problems. This was only possible through the presence of the police. It was also an important component that only 60 percent of the guest assembly was allowed to be exhausted.
In the future, she will continue to see the clubs and the DFB as a responsibility to take better measures and also to enforce them consistently. “Unfortunately, there is still room for improvement. A minority of violence is left too much scope,” she explains. “Violence and rioters never belong to fan culture.” The poster with her counterfei in the crosshairs, meanwhile, left Behrens uncommented.