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🇩🇪 Germany /Crime & Justice

After Swastika photo at England match, Hansa Rostock distances itself from hooligans

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Under investigation
  • FC Hansa Rostock condemned hooligans who allegedly posed in front of a Swastika flag and fought rival supporters near the club’s match at Watford.
  • The club informed state and federal police, Germany’s domestic intelligence authorities and the German Football Association, and said it would investigate links to the people involved.
  • Hansa said possible consequences include stadium bans and expulsions, stressing that right-wing extremism and Nazi symbolism have no place at the club.

FC Hansa Rostock has distanced itself from hooligans allegedly photographed posing in front of a Swastika flag during the club’s trip to England. The supporters are also alleged to have fought fans of Glasgow Rangers and Olympique Lyon around the away match against FC Watford.

The club said it acted immediately after learning of the incident. It notified the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state police, the Federal Police station in Rostock and the state Interior Ministry’s security authorities. Hansa also contacted the German Football Association and the bodies responsible for stadium bans.

The statement followed a report by the investigative portal Exif, which published a photo showing the suspected participants with the flag. Hansa said it was particularly disturbing that some of those pictured had also attended events connected with the club, including a children’s festival. The club said it had not known about their alleged background at the time.

For us, one thing is clear: right-wing extremism, National Socialist symbolism and inhuman ideologies have no place at F.C. Hansa Rostock.

· FC Hansa RostockThe club condemned the alleged conduct and rejected any association with Nazi symbolism or extremist views.

Hansa said it would examine every possible connection between the individuals and the club, including current or former membership, business ties, organizational links or other relationships. If it finds links that conflict with the club’s principles, it said it will end them decisively. Possible measures include stadium bans and expulsions.

“For us, one thing is clear: right-wing extremism, National Socialist symbolism and inhuman ideologies have no place at F.C. Hansa Rostock,” the club said. The 3-0 defeat at Watford in late July marked Hansa’s first match against an English club in its 60-year history, with more than 6,000 fans traveling to the city northwest of London.

We will not allow people who behave in this way to discredit our club and its fans or create an image of Hansa that in no way reflects our self-understanding and values.

· FC Hansa RostockThe club explained why it would investigate the people shown in the photograph and impose consequences if necessary.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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