DFB Sports Court: Penalty against Bayern for banner against police
Following a ruling by the DFB Sports Court, FC Bayern must pay a fine because fans of the club displayed a banner against the police.
The record champions are to pay €20,000, of which €6,500 can be used "for their own security or violence prevention measures," according to the ruling published on Tuesday. On April 26, FC Bayern fans displayed a sign at the home game against 1. FSV Mainz 05 with the following slogan: "Racist murderous cops are investigating... racist murderous cops?! - Justice for Lorenz."
The banner refers to Lorenz A., a Black German citizen who was shot five times by a police officer in Oldenburg after an altercation with bouncers outside a nightclub. The question arises as to whether the use of the firearm was proportionate. The officer is being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter.
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The criticism on the Bayern fans' banner is also directed at the fact that the investigation against the officer is being conducted by the neighboring police department in Delmenhorst. "For reasons of neutrality," investigations against the police in Germany are usually assigned to other police departments, often neighboring ones.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have repeatedly called for the appointment of independent police commissioners to investigate allegations of unlawful police violence.
FC Bayern: "Criticism of racially motivated police violence is legitimate"The ruling by the DFB Sports Court states that FC Bayern did not agree to the DFB Control Committee's request for the punishment now imposed. The club considered the offense of insult not to be met, "as it is a value judgment that is not directed against an identifiable group of people," the document states.
"The criticism of racially motivated police violence and its sometimes inadequate sanctions due to a lack of control mechanisms expressed with the banner is legitimate," the ruling explains FC Bayern's argument. "This makes a positive contribution to the social discourse regarding the fight against racism and its prevention."
Sports court: "Banner is unsportsmanlike and offensive"The DFB Sports Court, led by presiding judge Stephan Oberholz, stated that it followed the argument that the banner served the overarching goal of "united action against racism." Nevertheless, the banner used went "beyond what is still permissible and acceptable" and constituted unsportsmanlike conduct "for which FC Bayern Munich is responsible."
The banner was deemed "unsportsmanlike and provocatively offensive." It constituted an "unacceptable derogatory statement against the police, an important partner of the associations and clubs, whose personnel and facilities FC Bayern Munich itself uses at football matches." Bayern Munich had 24 hours to appeal the ruling.
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