FC Schalke 04 has commented on the large-scale raid by the NRW police against football supporters, including Schalkers. The club was “surprised”.
Actually, the press conference on Thursday afternoon was only supposed to be about sporting matters. About how FC Schalke 04, a candidate for relegation, plans to beat title contender Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 6.30 p.m./Sky) in the big Revier derby, the 100th in the Bundesliga. But the major police raid in North Rhine-Westphalia in the morning hours kept the club so busy that media director Marc Siekmann read out a statement.
“We also learned about the police measures this morning through extensive and detailed media coverage. In view of what we were able to read and see, we are quite surprised by the extent of the operation,” said Siekmann.
The background to the police operation is the attack by Dortmund and Essen hooligans on the organised fan community of FC Schalke about a fortnight ago. With a large number of officers, the investigators are now examining 27 objects, mainly in Essen and Dortmund, but also in Schwelm, Bergheim, Gladbeck, Beelen, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen.
In some cases, the officers broke windows and doors, and among the objects searched is a clubhouse of the Ultras Gelsenkirchen. Fan circles reported that the raid on the clubhouse of the Schalker Ultras resulted in the destruction of the rooms.
The police reported that they had “seized extensive evidence” without being more specific. There were no arrests or “personal injuries”, as the police put it, during the raid, although the persons concerned were also found at most of the addresses.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) spoke of “19 suspects” and added somewhat flippantly: “We have now made a house call on them. I think it’s great that we’ve now made a clean sweep of the hooligan scene.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) spoke of “19 suspects”.
The Schalkers were making efforts to contact the investigating authorities, Siekmann said. “Upon request, the club was informed that the Essen public prosecutor’s office was in charge of the proceedings. A basic request for talks from the club with reference to the ongoing measures and proceedings was rejected for the time being,” he explained and added: “Our state of knowledge is based on what has been published in the media or by the police so far. Therefore, we cannot make any further statements on the whole complex of issues at this point. “
FC Schalke 04 has clearly stated in its mission statement and statutes that it fundamentally rejects all forms of violence.
Marc Siekmann
The club would continue to describe the alcohol ban as “not purposeful or proportionate”. Siekmann commented: “In the end, it is up to the assessment of the security authorities, who have to give us approval for the security concept. Hence the decision not to go ahead with the sale of alcohol.”
Siekmann felt it was important to emphasise that the club wanted a “peaceful derby”: “FC Schalke 04 has made it clear in its mission statement and statutes that it fundamentally rejects any form of violence. Accordingly, it is our great wish that the derby on Saturday will be peaceful. Regardless of whether it is in the arena, on the city grounds or beyond. “