Bundesliga
Peta's legal strike over police horse deployment in Mannheim derby
Police horses were deployed for the DFB-Pokal derby in Mannheim, which erupted into a riot, while animal‑rights group Peta filed a formal complaint on Monday, highlighting the stark contrast between security tactics and animal welfare concerns in the Mannheim‑Randale recently.
Legal fallout after the riot
The incident has generated a juristisches Nachspiel, as the Tierrechtsorganisation Peta lodged an Anzeige at the Veterinäramt in Mannheim on Montag. The complaint seeks accountability for the chaotic Krawalle surrounding the DFB-Pokalspiel.
The Krawalle originated during the DFB-Pokalspiel between Waldhof Mannheim and 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Freitag, when four Polizeipferde were hit by Pyrotechnik launched from the crowd. The Einsatz of the horses on the field turned the Derby into a Randale.
Peta’s Anzeige specifically names the unknown Pyrotechnik‑Werfer, the Reiter of the Polizei and the Beamten responsible for the Pferdeeinsatz as defendants. It also calls for a ban on the use of Pferde in police operations.
The organization appealed directly to Baden‑Württembergs Innenminister Manuel Hagel, urging him to prohibit the Polizeipferde Einsatz in future events. This demand adds a political dimension to the legal case.
Fachreferentin Yvonne Würz commented, "Der Einsatz der Pferde auf dem Spielfeld war nicht nur völlig sinnlos, sondern hat die Tiere auch unnötig in Gefahr gebracht. Die sensiblen Fluchttiere als Abschreckung zu benutzen, ist moralisch einfach nicht vertretbar. Gute Polizeiarbeit kommt ohne Pferde aus."
In the match itself, Mannheim lost the Pokalspiel against Kaiserslautern after Verlängerung with a 0:1 scoreline.