Those responsible at Werder Bremen have massively criticized the actions of the police at Wolfsburg Central Station against Bremen Ultras. “I’m actually expecting a political correction from the decision-makers, because that can’t stand still and mustn’t be repeated,” said Werder President Hubertus Hess-Grunewald on Sky after Saturday’s 2-2 win at VfL Wolfsburg.
Before the game in the Bundesliga, several Ultras felt that searches and personal details of the officials were disproportionate and did not show up for the game in protest. Videos on social media show fans surrounded by several police officers in front of emergency vehicles and receiving the announcement from the officers that the supporters are not allowed to stay in the city area and are only allowed to go to the stadium.
The Wolfsburg police referred to the need for searches to avert danger. The action was intended, the authority wrote on Twitter, to prevent “clashes between fan groups”. Bremen’s professional football director Clemens Fritz said: “I don’t understand it. I don’t know who decided that and I don’t know who wanted to do that, but I think it’s cheeky.”
According to Hess-Grunewald, everyone should ask themselves what kind of football and what kind of country they want. “A free country or one that has to compete with other countries that we don’t see as free,” he asked.
Werder tweeted that the departure of the Ultras represented “a clear competitive disadvantage” for the game. Fritz said both clubs agreed that the game posed no risk. “Encircling our fans, searching them at the train station and wanting to take personal details. I mean: nobody did anything.” In the past few years, things have “always been quiet”. “I don’t understand,” he added.
