Cologne fans leave
Before the Bundesliga derby: a fuss about alleged nude checks
December 13, 2025 – 7:19 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
That could have further consequences: around the derby in Leverkusen there is anger between the fans and the police.
Even before the Rhine derby between Bayer Leverkusen and 1. FC Köln kicked off, the game was already under bad auspices. Numerous Cologne supporters began their return journey before the game – in protest against what they considered to be too harsh entry controls.
As several fans at X report, there are said to have been naked checks by the police. That went too far for many Cologne fans. Videos show how they leave the stadium together.
According to “Express”, 1. FC Cologne puts the number of fans who left at 600. The club explained that the controls were “not appropriate from the fans’ point of view”. Whether there were actually nude checks can be “neither confirmed nor denied.” We are in contact with the authorities and Bayer Leverkusen to clarify the incident.
At Fanhilfe Köln published a statement on the X platform: “After nude checks took place, the active fan scene decided to leave the stadium closed.” She also called on those affected to come forward.
According to the “Express”, the police contradicted the allegations. A spokesman said there were “no nude checks”. However, it was admitted that the fans were dissatisfied with the type of controls.
In the middle of the first half, Sky commentator Wolff-Christoph Fuss reported that many of the Leverkusen fans also left the stadium in solidarity. Previously, they had caused a stir by burning off a lot of pyrotechnics.