The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on Thursday ruled that German football clubs could sanction fans who misbehaved during matches with fines.
Fourth division club, Carl Zeiss Jena, had taken the issue to the courts after being fined 25,000 euros (29,000 dollars) for disturbances by their fans at three games in 2018.
The BGH, Germany’s highest court, confirmed earlier rulings that the nation’s football federation DFB could continue holding clubs responsible for the behaviour of fans in stadia before, during and after games.
The BGH said the current DFB practice did not violate any fundamental principles of the legal system.
The sanctions are purely preventive measures, which are permissible even when clubs are not at fault.
Fan organisations had hoped for an end of such collective punishment which had led to a long-standing dispute between them and the DFB.
Jena originally lost their case at a DFB arbitration court, and that ruling was confirmed by a higher regional court in Frankfurt.
The BGH hearing took place on July 1 and Thursday’s ruling was binding. (dpa/NAN)
