How a stolen slogan ignited the Lower Saxony derby
The 185th edition of the Lower Saxony derby between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 showed how closely football and riots are linked in Germany – a 2-0 victory for the home side, but a fireworks display of disturbances that shocked the security authorities.
The Derby and the Result
"No, we're not talking about Friedrich Merz and his poll numbers, but the Lower Saxony derby," read the introduction of the Kurvenschau section. The encounter was not only sportingly intense, but apparently a flashpoint for the fans of both camps.
Eintracht Braunschweig took the lead with a clear 2-0, but the joy in the home block was quickly eclipsed by the guests from Hannover. With the second goal in stoppage time the emotional powder keg exploded, and away fans threw pyrotechnics into adjacent areas, turning the stadium into a battlefield.
Fan Choreography and Theft
On the way to the stadium the Braunschweig fans were seen with pyrotechnics, emotions and a special note. The note stated that a large part of the planned choreography was no longer in their own hands and could no longer be carried out.
Before the match was kicked off, parts of this choreography already appeared in the Hannover away block. The guests mocked the Braunschweig supporters by stealing the slogan "Let's get a little crazy here" – a motto the Lions had previously used against 1. FC Union.
During the rest of the game the remaining choreography elements were burned in front of the angry home crowd. The Hannover fans are suspected of having broken into a hall rented by Braunschweig supporters in mid‑October and having stolen the material there.
Security Debate and Collective Punishments
Lower Saxony interior minister Daniela Behrens sharply criticised the security concept and again threatened collective punishments against the Hannover fans. As an example she cited the €100,000 fine that SV Waldhof Mannheim had to pay after riots in the first round of the cup, as well as the partial spectator ban for two home games.
Similar tensions are evident with the Augsburg side, whose ultra group "Legio Augusta" was prohibited by the club in August from using cardboard boards for choreographies. In Gladbach fans protested against the long travel to Stuttgart, while Cologne supporters again criticised the brand "We:FC" because it resembled a fashion label too closely.
At the weekend some fan scenes backed the ultras of SV Darmstadt, after five Darmstadt supporters had previously been arrested in Karlsruhe and others had been expelled from the ground. The Darmstadt fan aid reported massive use of force by the police, further fueling the debate on fan safety.