Record fine for 1. FC Köln. The DFB control committee is demanding over half a million euros from 1. FC Köln for using pyrotechnics in the derby against Mönchengladbach.

The DFB Control Committee is fining Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln a whopping half a million euros for its fans’ pyrotechnics in the derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3:1). The 595,000 euros are a new record for misconduct by a club’s own fans!

The club is allowed to invest 198,000 euros of this “in its own security or violence prevention measures”.

The club in the city on the Rhine does not agree with this sum at all and questions the point of the entire catalog of penalties. “From our point of view, this approach is completely misguided. The imposition of association fines in this form is far removed from the reality of German football and fan culture. We will therefore continue to actively and emphatically advocate a sensible adjustment of the penalty guidelines and an appropriate approach to this culture,” said FC managing director Jens Keller.

Numerous flares and smoke bombs set off in the Cologne section delayed the kick-off of the derby on match day 8 by six minutes. The high amount of over half a million euros comes about because each pyro element is individually sanctioned with a 1000-euro fine.

Keller continues: “The derby was intensively prepared by our security and fan representatives, as well as the security authorities. In principle, this case also shows once again that a general ban on pyrotechnics in football is not effective enough. For the active fan scene, the use of pyrotechnics is part of football and fan culture. But: No red lines should be crossed.”

That was the case in the derby, but Cologne has requested a reduction in the penalty. “Specifically, the safety of spectators in particular must always be guaranteed and there must be no impact on the sporting event. These limits were clearly exceeded against Gladbach. This also results in enormous financial damage. The heavy fine hits FC hard on the road to the fastest possible economic recovery,” emphasized Keller.