Football-second-division club Hannover 96 has faced scrutiny from parts of its own fan scene following the DFB-Pokal match against the Bremen district club SV Hemelingen (9:1). In a public statement, the club condemned queer-hostile insults and threats reportedly heard last Saturday directed at participants of the Christopher Street Days in Bremen, which were held concurrently with the match.
“According to consistent reports, individuals from the vicinity of our supporters behaved queer-hostile and discriminatory toward participants of the CSD. We have reports of insults and threats,” the statement reads.
Hannover 96 has been the patron of Christopher Street Days in Hannover for more than ten years and thus commits to “diversity, tolerance, and a respectful coexistence.” In light of the deadly attack on the Christopher Street Day in Berlin last month, the club notes it is important to “confront queer-hostile and other discriminatory behavior decisively and not look away.”
The cup match between Hemelingen and Hannover took place at the Weserstadion in Bremen, with around 7,000 Hannover supporters in attendance. After the game, images surfaced showing damage to sanitary facilities, destroyed toilets, sinks, and mirrors in the guests’ section of the arena. The Hannover 96 club also condemns these acts in its statement.
“We expressly regret that SV Hemelingen had to face such damage after a cup match that was special for the club. We are in contact with the club,” the statement continues.
