Elimination of Penalties for Group Participation
Hertha BSC Leads Movement to Abolish Association Penalties
Hertha BSC e.V., one of Germany's renowned football clubs, has taken a bold step in January 2025 by signing a position paper titled "Abolish association penalties." The paper, addressed to the North-East German Football Association (NOFV), is a part of a larger movement that has been active for over a year.
The movement, which also includes Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA, aims to reform the current system of association penalties, arguing that they are arbitrary, opaque, and legally questionable. The key messages of the campaign are clear: the associations must engage in dialogue, show willingness to talk, and reform.
The movement's focus extends beyond pyrotechnics, encompassing structural justice, freedom of speech, and respectful treatment of club work. The practice of association penalties, they argue, raises concerns about the associations enriching themselves from fan culture, as they are non-profit organizations.
The blanket rejection of pyrotechnics and ignorance of positive, creative developments in fan culture, the movement contends, prevent authentic progress. Instead, they propose that security in stadiums should be created with the people who create atmosphere, identification, and community.
The consequences of association penalties can range from restricted operational capacity to existentially threatening financial burdens, particularly affecting smaller clubs. Ignoring or criminalizing positive, creative fan culture, the movement argues, is not only legally questionable but also damages trust in fair procedures and fosters populist sentiment.
The goal is to abolish association fines through structural reforms, aiming to protect diversity and freedom of expression in football culture. Clubs and fan scenes are demanding an open and transparent dialogue involving all parties - associations, clubs, fans - to discuss fan culture and sanctions.
Hertha BSC, along with organized fans and numerous other clubs and fan scenes, is planning to initiate a nationwide debate on a satisfactory solution for all parties starting from the 2025/26 season. For more information, the movement's director of communications can be contacted at [email protected].
As the movement gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the football associations will respond to these calls for reform. However, one thing is certain: the fight for a fairer, more inclusive football culture is far from over.
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