Bundesliga clubs must now pay for police costs at high-risk matches

In Germany, a significant legal ruling has emerged concerning the financial responsibilities of Bundesliga clubs regarding police presence at their matches. Recently, the federal constitutional court dismissed an appeal from the German Football Leagues (DFL) concerning a prior decision made by the Bremen state government that mandated clubs to cover police costs for high-risk games. These high-risk matches are identified as those that often feature intense rivalries or derby situations, where security measures become more necessary. This ruling not only pertains to the Bremen context but is expected to influence similar practices in other German states as well. The crux of the issue began in 2015 when Werder Bremen was presented with a substantial bill of approximately 400,000 euros for police services during a derby match against Hamburg. The DFL has been contesting the practice for about a decade, citing the state’s protection responsibilities outside stadiums that should ideally be funded by taxpayer revenues rather than club finances. However, the court ruled in favor of retaining the existing responsibility on clubs, a decision that has profound implications for their financial sustainability and operational viability. In light of the ruling, the German FA has expressed dissent, arguing that clubs being liable for general public security costs is fundamentally inappropriate. They highlighted that clubs should not bear the financial burden of policing events occurring outside their control, hinting at a potential existential threat to smaller teams, which may struggle to cope with additional financial pressures. The DFB warned that this ruling could lead to severe financial hardships, particularly for clubs already operating on thin margins. Furthermore, the fans' community has voiced its opposition to the development. Fan group 'Unsere Kurve' criticized the decision as shockingly contrary to the welfare of football culture in Germany, emphasizing the vast financial contributions football made to the state through taxes. They argued that other large public events, such as Oktoberfest and local carnivals, should also face similar cost burdens for police presence. Such sentiments assert that the football community should not be unfairly singled out as responsible for public safety costs linked to crowd-related issues that can be seen across various public events.