Police rely on offside position in Cologne‑Mönchengladbach match

On the pitch of the RheinEnergieStadium the police are not in the front row, but wait off‑side, while fans of Cologne and Mönchengladbach enter the football match on Sunday. The new tactic is intended to prevent conflicts and reduce costs – a radical step in dealing with high‑risk games.

The concept provides that police forces initially take a restrained position and only intervene when the situation forces them to. In North Rhine‑Westphalia this approach is already being tested at games with a high potential for conflict.

When Cologne and Mönchengladbach meet on Sunday, the new strategy is meant to reduce conflicts with the fans and at the same time save money, authorities emphasize.

The affected municipalities say they were taken by surprise and complain that the decision was made without sufficient coordination.

Bayern‑Munich‑Ultras experience unexpected confrontation

In early September the members of the Bayern‑Munich‑Ultras surprised everyone when they got off the buses before their match against Schalke 04 and instead of the usual riot police found aggressive Schalke fans.

A brawl developed, which the police could only end late; pepper spray then filled the air.

The incidents show that the restrained police tactic carries both opportunities and risks and reignites the debate about safety and costs in German football.