Match-going fans are currently excluded from football due to #COVID19. Executives, however, are still at it.

Long thread about two alarming developments involving fans and the network of support offered to them which could significantly affect Germany's fan culture. (1/22)

Meet the Fanprojekt (FP), a form of social work developed around young football fans in Germany over the past 30 years.

The FP’s staff are completely independent and are not committed to a club, associations or police.

At the center of their work: Being there for fans. 2/22

No matter the issues fans face, from problems with police to social issues at home, they know they can rely on the FP to provide help.

One of the most important elements in the FP’s work: Helping fans to organize, find their voice. 3/22

Another element: Democratic values. The FPs have played a vital role in turning German football from an area of society where fascists and racists racists tried to proliferate, to a space where anti-racist, antifascist activities thrive. 4/22

The FPs enjoy a high level of trust among fan representatives, clubs and the authorities alike.

Their social, political importance in German football and fan culture is indisputable. 5/22

The FPs’ funding is split evenly between German football’s governing bodies and the state. FPs in locations where a club plays in the top two divisions are covered by the DFL, whereas the third division and downwards is covered by the DFB. 6/22

In 2019 the DFB funded FPs in 33 locations. The cost: €3.3 million for all of them.

Now, a Der Spiegel report says the DFB intends to cut 9% of its funding, with a view of stopping it altogether in 2024. This would affect locations where clubs play below the third tier. 7/22

This comes as a blow to the many FP employees already struggling financially, many of whom are part-timers. 8/22

How much of a blow is it? Here’s one example which I’ve been following personally: A club in one of Germany’s lower divisions is based at a location where the far right is trying to stake a claim. 9/22

In the past few months, FP staff have been dealing with far-right attempts to infiltrate a certain fan scene, helping fans of democratic values to find their voice against such tendencies.

They’ll likely be affected by the cuts. They’re already struggling financially. 10/22

I won’t name the club in order not to hinder the important work done by the FP staff, but I can say I’m aware of several similar examples from several locations in Germany.

Spoke to a contact at this FP about the DFB’s plan. Here’s what he had to say: 11/22

“I think of our work against discrimination, and then we have to fight for our survival. It feels like a slap in the face. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, but I think some aren’t aware of the results of our work, like they’re running away from their responsibility.” 12/22

While the DFB refused to comment on this particular matter, it also told Spiegel it has to keep track of its finances given the #COVID19 crisis. However, the newspaper’s article suggests the cuts were in discussions long before corona, which my sources confirm. 13/22

Pushing such a measure at this time is a rather cynical move by the DFB, especially as fans are currently excluded from stadia – their main platform for protest.

Make no mistakes: I don't think there's a single fan group which wouldn’t have protested against the move. 14/22

At the same time, clubs in the state of NRW ( #BVB, #S04 , Köln, MG, others) will announce a so-called “alliance against violence” with the state interior ministry & police. 15/22

Some of the "alliance's" terms have been tweeted by 11FREUNDE Editor-in Chief @philippkoester.

Some quotes: 16/22

“The different sides could see it as mandatory to demand a condemnation of defamatory remarks, such as banners…. Clubs' condemnation of undesirable behavior (...) prevents the legitimization of such behaviors. This can be relevant even if there is no criminal relevance.” 17/22

What’s a defamatory remark? Who decides what constitutes “undesirable behavior”?

And most importantly: Who’s there to make sure this won’t be used to tame critical views and curtail legitimate fan protests? 18/22

Reminder: Germany’s interior ministers have been using harsh language and trying to push for extensive police measures against football fans for quite a while.

From January 2019, for @dw_sports 19/22 https://www.dw.com/en/politicians-police-on-collision-course-with-germanys-football-fans/a-47186470

For me, these ostensibly separate developments could result in the same outcome: Fan work being hurt, fan representatives’ positions being weakened, critical views being suppressed. 20/22

Basically, I believe there’s a real threat to many of the things which make German football and its fan culture so special, and I hope we won’t look back at #COVID19 as a crisis which was exploited by the authorities to quash a critical, organized, independent fan culture. 21/22

Sources: @derspiegel (report by the excellent @EdLopez86 and @Andrejnalin77), @dw_sports, @philippkoester & 11FREUNDE.

A huge thank you to my colleague and friend @matt_4d for his help and support.

Poster in top tweet: "Football lives through its fans." 22/22