After the regional league match between the two teams in Münster, there was violent rioting in addition to the use of pyrotechnics. This has now been sanctioned by the competent sports court.
Extenuating circumstances despite repetitions
Preußen Münster was fined 1,500 euros for the use of pyrotechnics, while the Esseners were even fined 5,000 euros for the behaviour of their Ultras. The efforts of the clubs and the existing awareness of the problem were seen as mitigating the punishment, as were the confessions made,” the court stated in the reasons for the verdict. Therefore, the court considered the fines in this amount “to be appropriate for the offence and guilt, despite the fact that both clubs had attracted attention in a similar way in the past”.
“Such scenes have no place in our society and, of course, also in our stadium,” condemns Prussia’s managing director Bernhard Niewöhner the events again clearly. Comprehensive measures “ had already been taken to rule out comparable incidents in the future. Nevertheless, the remaining penalty hurts SC Preußen Münster very much, Niewöhner continued.
Essen Ultras incorrigible
Also Marcus Uhlig, chairman of the board of RWE, once again made a clear statement on the scenes surrounding the seventh match day: “The riots in Münster were and are not tolerable and are also not compatible with the values of RWE. A line was clearly crossed there.” For him, “every euro we have to pay for fan offences is completely superfluous”. “That’s why I have no understanding for the renewed use of pyrotechnics during our away game in Mönchengladbach,” said the 50-year-old, referring to the repeated misconduct of his own fan scene.
As a result of these recent incidents, “we will be taking a different approach in the areas of ‘fan support’ and ‘security’ in the future”, Uhlig explained future prevention measures. “Structures, processes and personnel resources” will be optimised “in order to contain such incidents in the best possible way in the future. Meanwhile, a verdict on the pyrotechnics set off in Mönchengladbach is still pending. However, one thing is already certain for Uhlig: “As a repeat offender, the sentence will certainly be even higher.
