Stuttgart and Dortmund issue statement on away-fan treatment: “Disproportionate and degrading!”

VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund have both issued comment on border security protocols affecting their traveling supporters last night. 

Ten busses transporting VfB Stuttgart fans to last night’s Champions’ League fixture in Belgrade did not end up making it to the match following incidents at the Serbian border. To a much lesser extent, Dortmund supporters encountered similar problems en route to their club’s fixture in Zagreb. Both Stuttgart and Dortmund have now issued public statements about the manner in which their fans were treated by Serbian and Croatian border authorities, respectively. 

“[Our fans were subject to] disproportionate and degrading checks,” the VfB statement reads, “In addition to this, there were reports of physical force being used against the fans. Documentation of the actions of the security forces. Should the suspicion of disproportionate measures and the use of violence be confirmed, VfB Stuttgart is considering officially lodging a protest with UEFA.”

“We want to experience football in a Europe that embraces freedom to travel,” VfB CEO Alexander Wehrle added in a separate statement, “Instead, we are increasingly confronted with disproportionate measures against fans, prejudgment, harassment and now apparently even the use of violence and humiliation,”

”Everyone who loves football, democratic rights and European values is called upon to stand up against this dangerous trend,” Wehrle’s statement continued,  Politicians, UEFA and the clubs must take their responsibility seriously so that incidents like those in Belgrade yesterday are not met with lip service alone. Such conditions are unacceptable.”

Dortmund issued a statement noting that grievances filed by its own supporters who experienced similar problems with Croatian border officials would be heard. The BVB statement claims contact with UEFA and Dinamo Zagreb has already been made. Additionally, Dortmund mentioned continued cooperation with the international organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE). An FSE working group, of which BVB is a part of, handles such complaints.

“As part of the established cooperation we have with a joint FSE working group,” the Dortmund statement reads, “The incidents have been reported and addressed on behalf of BVB fans.” 

Even a formal complaint to UEFA, as threatened by Stuttgart, isn’t likely to result in much action. The European confederation does not hold much sway over the [policies of nation states. It can nevertheless be expected that UEFA will respond in some way, potentially exercising soft capital on the border-check policies.