“Criminal Proceedings Initiated”
Fan choreo brings Schalke a lot of trouble with the police
10/31/2022 09:37 am
The defeat in the Bundesliga against SC Freiburg hurts FC Schalke 04 in sporting terms. There is now more trouble for getting stuck in the table cellar: Because the organized fans ignite smoke pots during a choreography, the game has to be interrupted. The police initiate criminal proceedings.
It was already impressive, the choreography of the Schalke fans in the home game against SC Freiburg (0:2). The entire block held up elongated balloons in blue and white, “Give everything for Schalke” read a banner, another huge banner with a painted upper body wearing a white Schalke jersey was raised in front of the grandstand. So far so good. But then something happened that the Gelsenkirchen police are now busy with: the burning of smoke pots.
Because that was “contrary to the agreements,” the police complained in a statement. The club had previously reported to the police and fire brigade that the Ultras would perform a choreography. But not including the smoke pots. This leads to a loss of trust and consequences. “Appropriate criminal proceedings will be initiated,” it said.
The smoke changed the color of the white jersey to the blue jersey – that’s the intention. But when the banner was lowered, the smoke spread across the field. Referee Christian Dingert had to interrupt the Bundesliga game for a total of 71 seconds after four minutes because the smoke obscured the view. Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow was surrounded by smoke, holding his jersey and his hand protectively over his nose and mouth. “The police point out that the firing of pyrotechnics of all kinds is prohibited in football stadiums because it is a health hazard,” the statement said.
“Since the police and fire brigade see a loss of trust in this action, they agreed during the game that they would no longer agree to the club’s security concept for the time being as soon as choreographies were registered,” it said. “In such a case, the games would have to be carried out without a valid security concept,” said Peter Both, chief police officer of the Gelsenkirchen police force.