FC Köln fans demand: Stop the Geißbockheim expansion!

FC Köln fans demand: Stop the Geißbockheim expansion!

On July 3, 2025, around 200 passionate fans of 1. FC Köln gathered in front of Cologne City Hall to demonstrate for the expansion of the Geißbockheim and the construction of three new football pitches on the Gleueler Wiese. This protest action was launched by the association's board of directors to draw attention to the political developments surrounding the planned performance center. The demonstration remained peaceful, which was also thanks to the presence of around 30 police officers who were on site to monitor the gathering, as Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports.

Since 2014, FC Cologne has been planning to expand its Geißbockheim in order to build a modern performance center. The Gleueler Wiese, where the new pitches are to be built, is one of the areas that belongs to the city and is leased by the FC. But there is resistance here: conservationists and the Greens are critical of the development. The city council recently discussed the issue. The CDU's decision to withdraw an application that was supposed to guarantee the protection of the Gleueler Wiese is particularly explosive. CDU parliamentary group leader Bernd Petelkau cited concerns about the efficiency of the city administration as the reason for the U-turn. These twists shed light on the confusing interplay between political objectives and the interests of the FC.

Political backgrounds and conflicts

The protest follows difficult progress in recent months. The issue was so explosive that the Climate Friends & Gut council group submitted an application that would lease the Gleueler Wiese to the environmental protection organization BUND for 30 years and prohibit any development. This received widespread support from the CDU and the Greens, although they had previously signaled that they would support the FC. Such political turns lead to a feeling of breach of trust, as the FC emphatically emphasizes. The association is faced with growing pressure as the political parameters have been changed ahead of the local elections on September 14, 2025.

At the last meeting before the election there was also a heated discussion about the applications to protect the Gleueler Wiese. Mayor Henriette Reker made it clear that protecting the green belt was the top priority, which was sharply criticized by Green Party leader Christiane Martin. The question arose as to whether the CDU's actions were merely a tactical maneuver. A legal assessment also found that both rejection and approval of the applications involve legal risks, which complicates the situation.

The future of 1. FC Cologne and local politics

With a possible court case clarifying the effectiveness of a 2020 development plan, the future of the Geißbockheim and Gleueler Wiese remains uncertain. The FC hopes for a political change after the election, which may lead to a reassessment of the situation. The highly emotional atmosphere surrounding football and its political dimension, which is also visible in the context of major sporting events, also remains present. Sport is more than just a game; it is also a power play that has far-reaching social and political implications, as bpb impressively shows.

The tension in Cologne remains high. Fans are still encouraged to support their club - be it by taking part in protests or simply by wearing the FC jersey. It remains to be seen how the local political decisions will affect the football scene in the cathedral city.