DFB to pass police deployment costs for high-risk matches to home clubs

The German Football Association (DFB) has passed a fundamental resolution stating that it will not bear the costs of additional police deployments for high-risk matches. Instead, the DFB intends to pass these potential fees on to the respective home clubs if authorities demand payment.

This decision follows a legal precedent in Bremen, where the Federal Constitutional Court upheld the legality of charging fees for high-risk sporting events. Other regions, such as Saarland, are also considering similar regulations. While the DFB is preparing for these financial shifts, the association maintains its opposition to the fee model itself, arguing that such measures do not improve security or reduce police presence. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf emphasized a preference for a cooperative approach with political and police authorities.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the State Audit Office has pressured the Ministry of the Interior to implement similar fee structures. The office noted that for the 2024/25 season, charging for high-risk and moderate-risk matches could have generated between 7.9 million and 15 million euros, potentially covering half of the total police personnel costs for the top three leagues. The Audit Office argued that taxpayers should not be responsible for the additional security costs of profit-oriented football matches.