German Court Rules Football Clubs Must Pay Police Costs for ‘High-Risk’ Matches

The German Federal Constitutional Court has upheld a ruling requiring Bundesliga clubs to cover police costs for 'high-risk' football games, including derbies and high-stakes fixtures. The court dismissed an appeal by the German Football Leagues (DFL), confirming a decision that started in Bremen, where Werder Bremen was billed €400,000 for a match against Hamburg in 2015.

The ruling is expected to have broader implications across Germany, with other states considering similar measures. While police are deployed to most professional matches, around 50 games a year are deemed particularly high-risk due to intense rivalries. Bremen's interior minister welcomed the decision, but the DFL and fan groups have criticized it, arguing that smaller clubs could be financially burdened and that public events like festivals should bear similar costs.