DFB penalties: Fan criticism of DFB penalties in the double-digit million range

The German Football Association has fined the 56 clubs from the top three leagues in the 2023/24 season a total of around 12.5 million euros, thereby drawing renewed criticism from the fan scene.

“Punishing for the sake of punishing has caused the accepted limits in the use of pyrotechnics in the stands to fall. According to the motto: no matter what happens, the punishment is always the same, firecrackers are once again in use in the stands and, recently, tracer ammunition, which is just as strict Rejecting it is like pyrotechnics being used as a weapon,” said Jost Peter, chairman of the fan alliance “Our Curve,” to the German Press Agency.

The penalties imposed by the DFB for various fan offenses in the previous season, of which almost eleven million euros were attributable to the 36 professional clubs in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga, related to both championship and cup games. The majority of judgments were made in connection with pyrotechnic incidents.

Fans are calling for a rethink at the DFB

“Fan groups that value the responsible use of pyrotechnics have been deprived of their arguments by the DFB’s practice. Irresponsible behavior led to the same punishment as efforts to engage in dialogue and preparation,” Peter criticized the DFB’s practice.

He calls for a rethink by the association in the future. “The DFB must recognize and publicly represent the difference between fan culture and rioting. The current punishment procedure needs a fundamental revision with the participation of relevant fan groups,” said Peter. In addition, the DFB should anchor this process in the clubs in order to achieve stable agreements on site. “At this level, other people who are necessarily involved, such as police and law enforcement, can also be effectively integrated.”

Frankfurt has to pay the most

Last season’s riot champions were Eintracht Frankfurt. The Hessians received a total of 918,950 euros from the DFB sports court. Behind them are Bundesliga relegated 1. FC Köln with 725,750 euros and second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern with 673,100 euros.

At Hannover 96 (609,940), Hamburger SV (520,800) and Hansa Rostock (519,280) the fines were also over half a million euros. In the 3rd league, 1. FC Saarbrücken leads the ranking with 213,800 euros, ahead of Waldhof Mannheim (205,610).

Since the clubs are allowed to use part of the penalties imposed by the DFB for violence prevention measures, only just under eight million euros ultimately ended up in the association’s account. Frankfurt, the sad frontrunner, transferred 614,250 euros. Cologne actually paid 489,180 euros, FCK 455,600 euros.

Money flows predominantly to foundations

The DFB used the majority of the fines for charitable purposes. A total of six million euros went to football-related foundations in 2024. This was over a million more than the year before. “I am very pleased that we are securing and facilitating the important work of the foundations for the future,” said DFB Treasurer Stephan Grunwald.

In Peter’s opinion, “the financing of the foundations is the only effective effect of the pyrotechnic fines. However, it gets an aftertaste when these fines completely fail to have their effect and, as with the subject of pyrotechnics, have more negative than regulatory effects.”