The control committee of the German Football Association (DFB) has filed a criminal complaint against 1.FC Cologne and is demanding a high fine.
The control committee of the German Football Association (DFB) has agreed to this 1. FC Cologne to send a criminal complaint for setting off pyrotechnics at the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach on October 22, 2023. The club announced this on Wednesday (December 13, 2023). Accordingly, 1. FC Cologne should pay a fine totaling 595,000 euros.
Of this sum, the FC could invest 198,000 euros in its own security or violence prevention measures. Before the start of the game, immediately before kick-off and during the game, numerous pyrotechnic objects were ignited in the south stand area. The massive smoke development delayed the kick-off by more than six minutes.
Keller: “Boundaries exceeded against Gladbach”
FC managing director Christian Keller said: “The derby was intensively prepared by our security and fan representatives as well as the security authorities. Basically, this case also shows that a general ban on pyrotechnics in football does not have a sufficient effect. For the active fan scene, this is The use of pyrotechnics is part of football and fan culture. But no red lines must be crossed.”
Keller added: “Specifically, the safety of the spectators must always be guaranteed and there must be no impact on the sporting events. These limits were clearly exceeded against Gladbach. This also results in enormous financial damage. The high fine affects the FC the path to the fastest possible economic recovery is very difficult.”
1. FC Cologne considers the DFB’s actions to be wrong
1. FC Cologne considers the DFB’s approach to “unreflectively assessing the incidents with partial application of a standardized sentencing guideline to be wrong”: “In our view, this approach is absolutely missing the target. The awarding of association penalties in this form is far removed from the reality of the situation German football and fan culture. That is why we will continue to actively and vigorously advocate for a sensible adaptation of the sentencing guidelines and for an appropriate way of dealing with this culture,” said Christian Keller.
Against this background, 1. FC Cologne will apply to the DFB control committee to significantly reduce the penalty.
