This Friday lunchtime, Borussia Dortmund received a request from the DFB Supervisory Committee to close the entire South Stand for the next home game that follows a final legal decision. BVB will review this request carefully – taking into consideration the investigation results up until now – and respond to the DFB Supervisory Committee by the deadline on Monday (13 February 2017).

Below is the German Football Association's statement on the request made by the DFB Supervisory Committee:

Following the serious incidents involving fans at the Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig, as well as in the previous matches away to Mainz 05, 1899 Hoffenheim and the game in Leipzig in the first half of the season, the German Football Association's (DFB) Supervisory Committee demands the closure of the South Stand for one Bundesliga match and a EUR 100,000 fine for Borussia Dortmund. The body made a corresponding request to BVB today.

More specifically, the Supervisory Committee revokes the suspension of the punishment that came from the last verdict against Borussia Dortmund by the DFB sports arbitration court on 8 July 2016, in which a partial closure of the lower tier of the South Stand (standing area 10-15) was suspended until 31 May 2017. On top of this, a partial closure of the upper tier of the South Stand (standing area 80-84) will be imposed as a result of the more recent incidents. This means the entire South Stand would be closed. This would affect the next Bundesliga match that comes after a possible final verdict by the sports arbitration court has entered into force. Furthermore, the Supervisory Committee requests Borussia Dortmund pay a fine in the amount of EUR 100,000.

Dr. Anton Nachreiner, Chairman of the DFB Supervisory Committee, commented: "Such a denigration and defamation of individual persons and clubs in the form of banners and insulting songs is not acceptable and must be rigorously sanctioned. The same applies for the use of pyrotechnics as well. On both of these points, grave misconduct was committed by some of the Dortmund fans attending the match and this requires a more extreme intervention by the DFB institutions."

During the Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig on 4 February 2017, fans in the South Stand in Dortmund held aloft a number of banners and signs containing derogatory and defamatory remarks. Furthermore, full beer cups were thrown in the direction of the interior area and Leipzig players were irritated with a laser device. In addition, at BVB's Bundesliga match away to RB Leipzig on 10 September 2016, an insulting banner was displayed in the Dortmund block, which also forms part of the charge. Furthermore, Dortmund supporters chanted insulting songs on several occasions during the Bundesliga match away to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on 16 December 2016. In addition, pyrotechnics were set off in the away block during the Bundesliga match at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on 19 January 2017.

The DFB sports arbitration court does not have any jurisdiction over incidents that took place outside the stadium. The public authorities (police, public prosecutor's office, ordinary courts) carry sole responsibility for this.

Borussia Dortmund has until Monday at noon to comment on the punishment requested by the DFB Supervisory Committee. If the club agrees to the request, this will be the final verdict of the DFB sports arbitration court. If the request is not agreed, the matter will be submitted to the DFB sports arbitration court for a decision.