Hanover boss Kind announces reaction after cross-hairs banner

DPA
·3 min read
Fans from Braunschweig display posters, including a crosshair with a 96 and the words "Hannover sieht Rot", symbolizing the club Hannover 96 during the German 2. Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Karlsruher SC at Eintracht Stadium. Hanover managing director Martin Kind has said he will take action after fans portrayed him and others on banners with cross-hairs during a match. Swen Pförtner/dpa

Hanover managing director Martin Kind has said he will take action after fans portrayed him and others on banners with cross-hairs during a match on Friday.

Hanover's second division match at SV Hamburg was interrupted for half an hour and was close to being abandoned because of the banners.

The incident was part of ongoing protests by fans at Bundesliga and second tier games against the plan of the German Football League (DFL) to bring in a strategic partner.

The 36 DFL clubs just reached the necessary two-thirds majority last year, and Kind is suspected to have voted in favour despite being ordered by the clubs to vote against the motion. Kind has not disclosed his vote, referring to a secret ballot.

"I don't want to comment on it right now. But there will be reactions, period," Kind told daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung on Saturday after the incidents in Hamburg.

"It is important that a decision must be reached," he added, without elaborating.

Banners with cross-hairs over portraits CVC Capitals Germany chief Alexander Dibelius and Blackstone boss Stephen Schwarzman were also shown at Friday's match.

Investment companies CVC and Blackstone are the companies the DFL is in talks with about an engagement which is to be over 20 years and help the DFL improve its digital products and marketing abroad.

Hanover coach Stefan Leitl said post-match he supports protests within the legal limits but that "I distance myself and we distance ourselves completely from what happened today. That has no place in a football stadium.

"We always hear that football belongs to the fans. But football also belongs to the footballers. And we love the sport as well," he said.

Hanover sporting director Marcus Mann warned that "it can't and must not continue like this. At some point, the atmosphere in the stadium threatens to tip over."

Friday's match also saw Hamburg fans forcing an interruption by placing heavy bike locks around a goalpost - a week after their match at Hertha Berlin was also halted for half an hour because fans threw tennis balls and chocolate coins onto the pitch.

This has happened a various other matches, including Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 Bundesliga win over Freiburg on Friday.

"It is important to stay relaxed and not let it affect you. You do get a little bit upset. Of course I can understand the fans that they want to use the stadium stage to voice their opinion. Whether it is right or wrong remains to be seen," Dortmund forward Niklas Füllkrug said.

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: "This has been an issue for a few games now. I would prefer to talk about sport. For the players it is unpleasant to stand around for 10 minutes and lose your rhythm."