Federal Constitutional Court
DFL has to pay higher police costs for high-risk games
So far, the DFL has resisted additional police costs for high-risk games. The Federal Constitutional Court is now taking action.
German professional football clubs must contribute to the police costs for high-risk games. The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe declared the Bremen law constitutional on Tuesday. This meant that the constitutional complaint from the German Football League (DFL), the association of Bundesliga clubs, was dismissed.
The challenged norm is compatible with the Basic Law, explained court president Stephan Harbarth in the verdict. The aim of the regulation is to shift the costs to the person who caused them and to whom the profits accrue. This is a constitutionally legitimate goal.
Federal Constitutional Court takes action
The Hanseatic city was the first and so far only federal state to decide in 2014 that the organizers of professional football games must contribute to the additional costs that arise for increased police deployment in high-risk encounters. The fee is due for all large events that are profit-oriented, have over 5,000 participants and where experience has shown that violence can occur.
In 2015, the first cost assessment was made for the game Werder Bremen against Hamburger SV for around 425,000 euros. In the meantime, over three million euros were due, which the DFL only paid in part and with reservations. The league association had taken legal action against the decisions in several courts.
DFL calls security in high-risk games a state responsibility
The case had already gone to the Federal Administrative Court, where the DFL lost in 2019. She then turned to the Federal Constitutional Court. Their main argument is that public safety is a state responsibility that must also be paid for by the state. The verdict in Karlsruhe was eagerly awaited because other federal states are also constantly thinking about reclaiming additional costs for such games.
High-risk games are games in which clashes between fan camps are particularly likely. Since 2014, Bremen’s Fees and Contributions Act has stipulated that the Free Hanseatic City can charge fees for additional police costs for profit-oriented events that are known to be prone to violence with more than 5,000 people. The DFL considers the regulation to be unconstitutional.
Note: This message has been updated.
DPA · AFP · Reuters
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Source: Stern

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