Dortmund face Südtribüne closure and 100,000-euro fine
February 10, 2017
The DFB (Germany's football association) announced the punishments on Friday after Dortmund fans unveiled offensive banners - including one calling on Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick to hang himself (pictured) - threw plastic cups onto the pitch and irritated Leipzig players with laser pointers during last Saturday's match.
Before the game, Dortmund fans attacked their visitors outside the stadium, with a number of fans and four police officers injured. But the DFB has no jurisdiction outside the arena.
A statement released by the organization took into account that Dortmund had crossed the line in various ways at three other games this season and that a suspended partial closure of the "Südtribüne", the stronghold for Dortmund's fan clubs, was part of sanctions imposed in July 2016.
"Such a denigration and defamation of individuals and clubs through banners and abusive chants can not be accepted and must be sanctioned," control committee chairman Anton Nachreiner said, insisting the incidents required "massive intervention" from the DFB.
The south stand at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park is also known as the "Yellow Wall" and, with a capacity of almost 25,000, is the largest standing terrace in European football.
The DFB said that Dortmund have until Monday to decide whether to contest the ruling. If they do, there will be a trial at a DFB sports court.
The one game ban will likely affect one of Dortmund's next league home games against Wolfsburg on February 18 and Bayer Leverkusen on March 4.
mp/dv (dpa/AFP)