The Frankfurt police have published further details about the origins and course of the altercations with Eintracht Frankfurt fans. There were errors in communication and the number of injuries continues to rise.
The special commission set up by the Frankfurt police released the first investigation results late on Sunday evening the serious riots before the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart announced. The evaluation of video material and witness interviews confirmed the course of events described on Sunday, the statement said.
Fans attack folders, then the situation escalates
Accordingly, a plainclothes steward who denied a person without a ticket access to Block 40 and held him down was attacked and hit in the face by Eintracht fans. In the course of the confrontation, the stadium security service alerted the police, who were immediately attacked by “at least 300 to 400 people from Frankfurt’s risk scene – many of whom were masked” when they arrived in front of the fan curve.
The Frankfurt supporters massively attacked the officers, who were clearly outnumbered, with punches and kicks and threw bottles, flagpoles, iron bars and iron bars at them. The police, who called in additional emergency services, defended themselves with “simple physical violence, pepper spray and batons.” The situation only calmed down after around 30 minutes and after the retreat from the area in front of the fan curve.
The report initially spread by the police via
More than 100 injured
The balance of the riots: 59 injured law enforcement officers, 57 injured police officers. According to the statement, the injuries range from hematomas, sprains, bruises, eye and respiratory irritation, to a torn tendon and at least one fracture. Eight officers were treated in hospital.
There is currently no reliable information about injured fans. Eintracht fan representatives spoke of almost 100 injuries on Sunday, including children. They are asked to report to the police. Witnesses are also still being sought.
GdP wants more stadium bans
The question of whether the massive use of irritant gas was proportionate still remains. The Frankfurt fan aid organization “The 13th Man” contradicted the police’s statements on Sunday. The police massively invaded the area in front of the block and used batons and gas, “without taking into account the casualties among normal fans, women and children,” it said in a statement. The fan representatives condemned the operation as an “escalation of violence by the police”.
The view of Eintracht, which did not comment again after a short statement on Saturday evening, is also still unclear. “In the coming days we will turn over every stone and put every piece of the mosaic together in order to have a precise picture of how these scenes could have come about,” announced board member Philipp Reschke.
The Hessian police union (GdP) meanwhile called for an increased application of stadium bans and a round table for all interior ministers.
