Last generation storms space
Ter Stegen stops climate protesters at DFB game
06/20/2023, 11:04 p.m
It’s the 25th minute of the DFB international match against Colombia. Suddenly, two Last Generation activists dart onto the field. Just before both can chain themselves to the post of the German goal, they are held. Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen grabs too.
Two activists from the Last Generation group stormed the field in the Gelsenkirchen Arena during the international match of the German national soccer team against Colombia. In the middle of the first half in the evening, the two ran purposefully towards the German goal of Marc-André ter Stegen. They wore T-shirts that read “Stop the fossil madness!” and were about to tie themselves to the gate. However, folders prevented them from doing so – ter Stegen also intervened. After a very short break, the game resumed.
“Because the federal government is still importing and burning coal from Colombia, we interrupted the international football match in Gelsenkirchen today,” the group wrote on Twitter. It went on to say: “A few weeks ago we protested with the Yukpa from Colombia and demanded the exit from fossil fuels. Chancellor Scholz: Stop coal imports from countries like Colombia and get serious about climate protection and the protection of human rights!”
According to the German Football Association, two other activists were in the stadium. All four were taken into police custody after the action, as the DFB announced during the second round. Because the national team lost 2-0 (0-0) against Colombia and thus ended the international three-pack without a win and with another bankruptcy, the topic after the game was the sobering performance of Hansi Flick’s men and not the protest action the lawn.
The Last Generation is an alliance of climate activists in Germany, Austria and Italy. It aims to force governments to take action on climate change through civil disobedience. The alliance was formed in 2021 from participants in a hunger strike. In contrast to “Fridays for Future”, the actors do not limit themselves to legal means such as strikes to achieve their goals.