May 7 – Some 155 police officers were injured in clashes with Dynamo Berlin and Energie Cottbus fans over the weekend – most of them from the use of their own tear gas.
Berlin police said 116 officers suffered injuries from tear-gas use, 28 from assaults and 11 after being hit by pyrotechnics fired by supporters after the fourth-division match at Dynamo’s ground.
“I absolutely condemn it,” Berlin’s senator for sport, Iris Spranger, said Monday. “The club has to tell us now what it wants to do with its fan base. This is taxpayers’ money that we had to spend, with 1,000 police officers for security.”
Security at games has become even more important and sensitive recently with Germany hosting the European Championship for 24 national teams this summer.
The violence broke out Saturday when the rival sides met at Dynamo’s ground in eastern Berlin for a match with promotion at stake for both.
Both clubs are known for having a far-right element among their fans. Cottbus won the game 2-0, ending Dynamo’s hopes of promotion while boosting its own.
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