Some 155 police officers were injured in clashes with Dynamo Berlin and Energie Cottbus fans over the weekend -- most of them from the use of their own tear gas.
Berlin police said 116 officers suffered injuries from tear-gas use, 28 from assaults and 11 after being hit by pyrotechnics fired by supporters after the fourth-division match at Dynamo's ground.
"I absolutely condemn it," Berlin's senator for sport, Iris Spranger, said Monday. "The club has to tell us now what it wants to do with its fan base. This is taxpayers' money that we had to spend, with 1,000 police officers for security."
Security at football games is a priority for police, with Germany hosting the European Championship for 24 national teams this summer.
Police have been training for potential trouble at matches.
Match security is a police priority as Germany will host Euro 2024 this summer.
"Such violence destroys sport," Germany's interior minister, Nancy Faeser, said on X, formerly Twitter.
It broke out Saturday when the rivals met at Dynamo's ground in eastern Berlin for a match with promotion at stake for both.
The two clubs have fallen from the heights of their heyday -- Cottbus played in the Bundesliga from 2000-03 and 2006-09.
Dynamo won 10 successive East German titles from 1979-88 amid allegations of match-fixing as Stasi chief Erich Mielke's favored club. Cottbus was forced to give up its best players to the Berlin team at the time.
Both clubs are known for having a far-right element among their fans.
Police said trouble flared when Dynamo supporters fired pyrotechnics at the visiting fans and burned Cottbus scarves, forcing the game to be stopped for around 15 minutes.
Police said they prevented the situation from escalating as the game resumed, but that the rival groups covered their faces and fired pyrotechnics at each other after the match, when Cottbus fans burned Dynamo paraphernalia in return.
The rival groups made several attempts to break through police lines to meet each other, forcing the police to use tear gas.
"Police dogs were also deployed, and two home fans were bitten and injured," the police said in a statement.
The unrest continued away from the ground, where some fans threw bottles at police and tried loosening small paving stones to throw. The officers responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Police filed a total of 62 criminal charges, including for breaches of the peace, attacks on law enforcement officers, resistance, physical assaults, freeing prisoners and insults. Some 74 people were apprehended and later released.
Cottbus won the game 2-0, ending Dynamo's hopes of promotion while boosting their own. Cottbus remain top in the northeast regional league.
Cottbus coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz criticised what he said was a lack of security at the game despite its potential for violence.
"I'm used to being insulted, especially here. But having to be afraid of being pelted with stones during the game, of being threatened, is unimaginable for me in 2024. It's no longer aggression, it's way beyond that," Wollitz told broadcaster MDR. "When you're threatened like that, you don't know how far these people will go."
Dynamo refuted the Cottbus coach's claims in a statement.
"Mr. Wollitz is known for his sometimes over-emotional and provocative behavior on the sidelines toward referees and representatives of other clubs," Dynamo said, adding that it was "very irritated" by the coach's past and regular criticisms of the club.
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Let's see at the statistics of the 4 Lords. And Man City are back. PSG are reportedly helping save Lyon from RELEGATION to Ligue 2! PALMEIRAS BEAT BOTAFOGO IN EXTRA TIME TO REACH THE LAST EIGHT OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have The HARDEST ROUTE to The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup FINAL! It took a long delay and extra time, but Chel...
Williams demands guarantee from Barca amid fears of Olmo situationAccording to Marca, Nico Williams has reportedly informed Athletic Club through his agent that he wants to don the Barcelona shirt from next season and is close to signing a six-year contract. However, the player reportedly wants a guarantee from Barca that they will be able to register him with La Liga after triggering his release ...
ATLANTA -- Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique warned his players against ignoring the offensive threats of Inter Miami in Sunday's Club World Cup round-of-16 match, emphasizing the damage that can be done by experienced stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets."Anyone who relaxes for 10 seconds in football already knows where they are. It's not like there's no dou...
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for a third successive season in 2024-25 – but the fact that Liverpool leapfrogged them was undoubtedly frustrating.In 2022-23, the Gunners were runners-up with 84 points, five points behind champions Manchester City. A year later, they improved to 89 points, closing the gap to Pep Guardiola's side to two points.The 2024-25 campaign looked like t...
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly keen to bring in his former colleague Acacio Valentim as part of a coaching reshuffle.The Portuguese boss is eager to avoid another disappointing season following a wretched first year in charge. In his debut season, Amorim led the Red Devils to a 14th place finish in the Premier League and suffered defeat in the Europa League final against Spur...
Cristiano Ronaldo to join up with Portuguese boss at Al-NassrAl-Nassr have reached an agreement with veteran Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus and look set to announce him as their new manager.The Saudi Pro League club have been looking for a new manager following Stefano Pioli’s decision to step down and return to Italy with Fiorentina.Jesus, 70, who left Al-Hilal at the end of the 2024-25 campa...
Raphinha keen to see Nico Williams at BarcelonaBarcelona winger Raphinha was full of praise for reported target Nico Williams as the club step up their pursuit of the Spain international.Barcelona are working tirelessly to bring the 22-year-old to the Camo Nou having been heavily linked with him for the past two years.Williams is understood to be keen on the move but his current club, Athletic, ar...
Alexander-Arnold: Real Madrid won't take Juventus lightlyTrent Alexander-Arnold says Real Madrid players are determined to win the Club World Cup.Real will meet Juventus in the tournament's round of 16 this weekend.New fullback signing Alexander-Arnold declared: "Both are very good teams (City and Juve), not least because they made it through the group stage."It's always going to be tough, no matt...
Pogba drops fresh Monaco move teaser onlinePaul Pogba has hinted he's set to undergo his medical with AS Monaco.The France international is due to sign for Monaco as a free agent after he passes his medical tests in the Principality.Pogba has dropped a hint on social media about his activities amid reports that he is due in France this weekend to complete his return to football.Pogba posted a self...
Raphinha happy to see Barcelona miss out on FIFA Club World CupBarcelona ace Raphinha has criticised the sheer number of game top clubs are having to play as the FIFA Club World Cup reaches the latter stages.Barcelona missed out on a place in the FIFA Club World Cup due to their poor performances in recent Champions League campaign.Raphinha doesn’t appear to be too bothered, however, hitting...
- 1 Arsenal interested in signing Cristhian Mosquera
- 2 Wayne Rooney gets Erling Haaland ponytail in shock new look
- 3 Arsenal have little chance of Liverpool target
- 4 Man United close in on Bryan Mbeumo
- 5 Chelsea transfer at 'final stages'
- 6 Man Utd close in on Bryan Mbeumo! Red Devils agree £60m+ fee with Brentford as Premier League rivals iron out final transfer details
- 7 Alfie makes clear Haaland commitment to Man City
- 8 Club World Cup 2025: Benfica v Chelsea predictions, best bets and odds
- 9 Salzburg vs Real Madrid Prediction 27 June 2025
- 10 Transfer news & rumours LIVE