A fortnight after the unacceptable incidents that took place in connection with the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Rasenballsport Leipzig, BVB has concluded the first phase of its investigations. Following an intensive evaluation of high-resolution images from CCTV cameras in the stadium, the club has identified 61 suspects.

Incidents inside Signal Iduna Park

Over the course of recent days, BVB has used the modern camera technology deployed in Signal Iduna Park to identify 61 individuals who allegedly played an active role in displaying or preparing insulting banners. In order for the individuals concerned to be identified, the club has passed on the relevant images and video footage to the police.

The acts or contributory acts revealed by the video footage are of varying degrees of severity and will be pursued resolutely following an individual assessment of each case, which will involve a hearing for each suspect. A focus will be placed on clearly attributing acts or contributory acts to individuals so that innocent spectators are not punished too.

The range of possible punishments includes stadium bans, club expulsion proceedings in coordination with the Executive Board of Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund, season ticket cancellations as well as recourse and compensation claims according to civil law. Borussia Dortmund shall naturally make findings regarding serious offences available to the law enforcement authorities.

Incidents outside the stadium

The law enforcement authorities are responsible for identifying acts or contributory acts outside the stadium. Police say 32 criminal investigations have been opened as a result of the riots that took place in Dortmund's Strobelallee on 4 February 2017. Based on our current observations, this number could yet rise to 40 or 50 over the course of the coming weeks.

Provided that the legal provisions permit personal data to be passed on and the law enforcement authorities provide the appropriate support, additional accompanying punishments will be imposed by Borussia Dortmund in the scope outlined above – once the respective investigative procedures have been launched. It goes without saying that in these cases too, an individual assessment and a hearing will be carried out by BVB first.

Borussia Dortmund expressly welcomes the decision by the DFB to follow the recommendation of the Central Sports Intelligence Unit (ZIS) and immediately impose nationwide stadium bans on all of the 88 hooligans that were stopped by the police in two buses in possession of pyrotechnics, combat gear, balaclavas, a change of clothes and drugs ahead of the Bundesliga match in Darmstadt on 11 February. Even before the recommendation by the ZIS, Borussia Dortmund had made clear its support for the systematic punishment of the offences.

Basic observations

Borussia Dortmund – Germany's second-largest sports club with 145,000 members and around ten million fans at present – has for many decades been a byword for democratic culture. BVB is aware of its social responsibility and maintains a long-standing commitment in the fields of integration, anti-discrimination and non-violence. Furthermore, through the BVB foundation Leuchte auf! (Light up!), we have a deep influence on society and support external initiatives.

As a club that pledges such decisive action based on a deep conviction, we want to take a factual and individual approach to the incidents. We believe it would not be productive or helpful to issue a blanket condemnation of BVB's fans, or its ultra scene.

BVB will continue to stand up for its values in the future. We pledge to all persons who were injured, insulted or disappointed on 4 February that we will do everything in our power in order to punish the perpetrators and prevent such incidents from being repeated again.