Hoffenheim’s longtime patron Dietmar Hopp has withdrawn three criminal charges in his ongoing dispute with Borussia Dortmund football fans.
This was confirmed by the district court of Heidelberg on Friday. In January 2019, the Sinsheim District Court sentenced the BVB supporters to a fine of 70 daily rates. Because an appeal was filed, the case has since been with the District Court of Heidelberg.
sign for peace
“This is a very clear sign of peace, of balance, of harmony. At least as far as the cases of the accused are concerned. We need such signs in German football more than ever,” said fan researcher Harald Lange from the University of Würzburg in an interview with ntv.de : “This agreement sends signals to both sides. They now have an obligation. And must continue to work with these signals.”
long-standing dispute
Hopp, who is the majority owner at TSG, has been at odds with Borussia fans for many years, who regularly insulted him with banners and in chants at games between the two clubs. At the Sinsheim district court, there were always procedures that were partially stopped against monetary payments. BVB fans’ lawyers argued that insulting chants are common in football stadiums and accepted as part of fan culture.
Hopp in many fan circles an enemy
The 81-year-old Hopp has been an enemy in many fan circles since he helped his home club to rise to professional football in 2008. With Dortmund, the aversions escalated for the first time in the first duel when a crosshair poster with Hopps’ likeness and the words “Hasta la Vista, Hopp!” could be seen in the stadium. Ten years later, the crosshairs poster was seen again when the two clubs met. As a result, the DFB sports court imposed a two-year ban on Dortmund fans playing in Hoffenheim in February 2020. However, this punishment hardly had an effect due to the corona pandemic and the associated ghost games.
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