German soccer fans investigated for wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

MAY 28, 2018 / 1:15 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Reuters Staff

2 MIN READ

BERLIN (Reuters) - Police are investigating a group of soccer fans in eastern Germany who celebrated their club’s victory by marching through town in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods.

After FC Energie Cottbus won promotion to the third-tier of the German league on Sunday, a group of fans, their faces covered with hoods resembling those worn by the U.S. white supremacist group, marched holding a red banner with “The rise of the evil ones”, written in gothic script.

The soccer club called the fans’ behaviour “inhumane, repugnant and in no way tolerable,” and said they faced a life-long ban from its games if identified.

“We are deeply saddened by the fact that a few people, through their actions, spoiled the joy of victory and damaged the image of tens of thousands of Energie fans and the club,” it said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the fact that a few people, through their actions, spoiled the joy of victory and damaged the image of tens of thousands of Energie fans and the club,” it said in a statement.


Read more: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-farright-soccer/german-soccer-fans-investigated-for-wearing-ku-klux-klan-style-hoods-idUKKCN1IT1VT?rpc=401&

[Kotya]

1. More than just a resemblance

https://img.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2018-05/cottbus-fussball-fans-ku-klux-clan/wide__820x461__desktop

[dembotoz]

2. Well isn't that a cultural export we can all b proud of

[packman]

3. Assholes aren't the exclusive product of America

Idiots and thugs

[ansible]

4. Soccer hooligans in Europe are a whole different level of thugs that we don't have here

It's pretty crazy how violent their riots can get. It's practically a tradition now for rival team fans to engage in huge brawls with people getting kiled.

[regnaD kciN]

5. Frankly, that's B.S.

There have been a few notable examples of riots, violence, etc. over the past, say, fifty years, but leagues and teams have been cracking down on that since the late '80s and early '90s. Nowadays, not only are there dramatically fewer violent disturbances, but there's zero tolerance for behavior that would be considered "free speech" in U.S. sports stadiums. For example, there are cameras recording (and saving for posterity) every area of the stands at English Premier League matches, and if some knucklehead fan does something offensive (say, miming a monkey to mock an opposing player who happens to be black), they will be tracked down and not only banned by the club for life, but will also face hate crimes prosecution.

Incidentally, the team in question just won promotion to Germany's third division, meaning they were in fourth division at the time of the incident. To give an analogous situation, this is like a minor-league baseball team winning their Single-A league championship. In other words, we're talking the boondocks here.

[a la izquierda]

6. Thank you. Ive been to matches in Europe and Latin America.

Sure fans go crazy, but anyone ever watch American fans after their team wins (or loses)?
How about fans of opposing teams (Dodgers and Giants) shooting one another?

[keepleft101]

7. In America

there would be nothing even done if this happen. Its a persons right if they want to wear a Ku Klux Klan-style hoods and march.