On the Friday evening before the derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln, there were riots in front of Gladbach’s Borussia Park. Problem fans from both camps have been attacking each other for years.
Over 100 1. FC supporters Cologne had gone to Gladbach’s Borussia Park on Friday evening around 9 p.m. At the same time, Gladbach fans were preparing the choreography for Saturday’s game. Many of them left the stadium towards Cologne supporters. According to the police, there were riots and the setting off of pyrotechnics. Two police officers and a female police officer were injured.
According to their own statements, the police were able to prevent further clashes and used pepper spray and batons. According to current status, 131 Cologne and 74 Mönchengladbach problem fans were taken into custody. Investigations are underway for violations of the Explosives Act, serious breaches of the peace and resistance to emergency services.
After the end of the game on Saturday, the people will now be released from custody gradually and separately according to fan groups, a spokesman for the police in Mönchengladbach said on Saturday.
Interior Minister Reul holds clubs accountable
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) calls on the clubs to take consistent action after the riots. Reul’s statement said: “We also need the clubs. They have to make sure that such guys don’t even come into the stadiums. We don’t give these crazy people any special treatment.” Clubs and the North Rhine-Westphalia police had already signed a joint agreement against fan violence in 2020.
The origin of the derby
The rivalry between the two fan groups goes back to the 1960s. The reason: Hennes Weisweiler – first player at 1. FC Cologne, later coach at Gladbach and Cologne. He became a legend at both clubs, leading them to titles against the other. The rivalry is born.
The first scandal followed in 1971: Before an away game in Cologne, the Gladbach team bus and the players’ equipment disappeared. He is only found again after the game. But the disputes became increasingly aggressive, especially from the end of the 2000s.
Again and again Conflicts between people from Cologne and Gladbach
Violent riots break out again and again. In 2008, problem fans from Gladbach bombarded FC fans’ shuttle buses with flares. 200 Cologne supporters then tried to storm a Gladbach fan house. In 2012, Cologne ultras pushed a bus with Gladbach fans off the highway and into a rest area. There they attack the bus with baseball bats and paving stones. The driver is ultimately able to get the bus back onto the highway – no one is injured.
In 2014, fan groups attacked each other with roof battens. During the game, a torn off head of a foal – Gladbach’s mascot – is shown on Cologne flags. Cologne’s mascot Hennes is briefly placed under police protection at the Cologne Zoo. In 2019, according to police reports, twelve people were injured after a firecracker was thrown from the Cologne fan block.
Quiet location on game day
The Cologne license game director Thomas Kessler appealed to the fans in a press conference before the game. As a club, we do a lot to prevent riots. The rivalry should be limited to giving everything in the stands to win the games. There should never be riots and violence, said Kessler.
On Saturday, the arrival of the Cologne fans remained peaceful, and things remained quiet even after the game. The police were deployed with a large contingent around the stadium – the police wanted exact numbers Mönchengladbach do not call on Saturday morning. However, around 1,000 emergency services were deployed in similar situations. The city and police have imposed a ban on glass and bottles around the stadium and at the train stations.