Bengalos and damage: Police take stock after derby chaos!

Bengalos and damage: Police take stock after derby chaos!

After the exciting Rhenish derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln on Saturday evening, the police and federal police drew an “overall satisfactory conclusion”. As the Review online Reportedly, extensive security measures were taken before the game. These included entry bans, glass and can bans, alcohol restrictions and a strong police presence to make the fans' journey as safe as possible.

The arrival of the Cologne fans was largely quiet. Unfortunately, there was a lot of trouble on the other side. Gladbach supporters caused several property damage, including the destruction of a coach carrying FC fans and a shuttle bus that commuted between Rheydt main train station and the stadium. The police identified two suspects against whom criminal proceedings have already been initiated.

Incidents and interruptions

Another incident made headlines when a fan was arrested for hitting a police officer on the helmet. There were also several interruptions to the game in the stadium, which were caused by the use of pyrotechnics in the visitors' block and Bengalos in the home area. In total, the police recorded 15 criminal complaints, which included, among other things, bodily harm, a sexual offense and resistance to police officers.

In addition to the above-mentioned incidents, four people were sent off and five were taken into custody. Despite these events, the fans' departure went without any major disruptions, according to the police. From a sporting perspective, Borussia Mönchengladbach won the derby with a clear 3-1 win.

Conclusion of the security situation

Despite the isolated riots, the police were satisfied with the overall situation around the derby. Safe travel and rapid response to incidents are important aspects that must be taken into account in such emotionally charged games. The measures appear to have had their effect, even if the evening was not entirely problem-free.

For local events and dealing with fans, it is crucial to continue to develop appropriate security concepts in the future in order to minimize such incidents and make the supporting program of the games pleasant for everyone involved. Because one thing is certain: emotions are part of football, but they should not turn into violence.