The topic of choreographies remains a hot topic ahead of FC Schalke 04’s return to action against HSV. These are the latest developments.
The ban on a choreography in the south curve by the fans of Hamburger SV remains in place even after a further meeting between the clubs involved and the Gelsenkirchen police. This was announced by FC Schalke 04 on Friday evening in a statement published on its homepage.
“FC Schalke 04 regrets that even after follow-up talks on Friday (January 19) between the clubs and the Gelsenkirchen police, no agreement could be reached on the implementation of a choreography by the HSV fans,” the statement published on the club’s homepage said. Therefore, there will be no corresponding possibility for the HSV fans in the Schalke Arena on Saturday evening. “For FC Schalke 04, a football match in the VELTINS Arena can only be carried out with a security concept that has been approved by all parties – the club has already communicated this in the past, both publicly and to the security authorities,” the club writes.
Hamburger SV had registered a choreography by its fans for the guest block. This was deemed feasible by FC Schalke 04, including a block flag that the police had objected to. “At the same time, it is of central importance for us as a club to protect the interests of our fans and to offer them the opportunity to live out their fan culture – this also includes the implementation of choreographies, taking into account safety-related aspects. Fan culture is part of our club’s DNA and will remain so,” explains Matthias Tillmann, CEO of FC Schalke 04.
At the security meeting that is usually held before each game, the Gelsenkirchen police had informed the clubs that they would not approve the choreography in this form. “The raising of a block flag over the entire guest area suggests that fans of Hamburger SV – as in several previous matches in the current season – ignite dangerous and therefore forbidden pyrotechnics under the cover of the block flag. This endangers other spectators, violates laws and, in addition, the DFB’s own security guidelines,” the police wrote in a statement they published.
A choreography by the Schalke supporters, on the other hand, had been approved, unlike in the first half of the season. According to RS information, however, it is by no means certain whether it will actually take place. Schalke, meanwhile, announced that it would continue to work towards this in the future and seek solutions so that choreographies can be carried out.