A few unwelcome incidents occurred in and around the stadium during last Saturday's Ruhr derby. These incidents run entirely contrary to the core values upheld by Borussia Dortmund. The club would like to publicly disassociate itself from the homophobic abuse reported in the south stand as well as the scenes of violent confrontation which occurred after the match.

For many decades now, the Ruhr derby has been defined by a rivalry which is famous the world over. This rivalry certainly contributes to the special appeal the fixture holds. Naturally enough, mutual taunting and provocation on the part of both fan bases has played an important role in the rivalry and has taken many different forms over the years.

There is a limit to this however, and this is clearly overstepped when insults take on either a discriminatory nature or serve to provoke scenes of violence. The core values of Borussia Dortmund revolve around a commitment to an open and diverse society - not just in the stadium, but everywhere the black & yellow flag is flown. BVB has a long-held commitment towards the elimination of all forms of discrimination. The club collaborates with many fans and fan groups from its supporter base to work towards this goal.

We therefore condemn the homophobic banner flown in the south stand as well as the violent incidents which occurred after the match. This behaviour not only tarnishes the public image of the club; it also serves to cast the fan base in a bad light, despite the fact so many of our supporters take part in positive initiatives. Borussia Dortmund stands for diversity and will continue to work towards building a positive society free of discrimination.

Borussia unites.