Hans Rostock Admonishes AfD Politicians for Violating Stadium Rules
Just days before the German federal elections, third-tier soccer club Hans Rostock has reprimanded two politicians from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for breaching the stadium’s code of conduct on social media.
According to the Ostsee-Zeitung, Leif-Erik Holm, the party’s state chairman in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Nikolaus Kramer, the parliamentary group leader in the state parliament, were invited to attend a match between Hansa Rostock and Viktoria Köln on February 9 by a local entrepreneur with AfD sympathies.
During the game, the politicians took a photo on the stands of the Ostseestadion, wearing Hansa Rostock scarves, and posted it on Instagram. Kramer’s accompanying caption read: "Election campaign with a difference."
The club’s response was swift. Citing the stadium regulations, which prohibit visitors from "behaving in a political, extremist, obscene, offensive, or provocatively insulting manner," Hans Rostock informed Holm and Kramer of their transgression via email.
The club warned that it would exercise its right to exclude the politicians from the stadium in the event of any further violations.
In his defense, Kramer apologized, claiming that he was unaware of the stadium rules. Holm, on the other hand, declined to apologize and refused to commit to refraining from similar behavior in the future.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on the role of politics in sports and the boundaries of acceptable conduct at sporting events. Some commentators have argued that the politicians’ actions were disrespectful to the club and its fans, while others have defended their right to express their political views.
Hansa Rostock’s firm stance on enforcing its stadium regulations has been widely praised. The club’s managing director, Robert Marien, emphasized the importance of maintaining a politically neutral and inclusive environment at the Ostseestadion.
"We welcome all visitors to our stadium, regardless of their political affiliation," Marien said. "However, we expect everyone to respect our rules and conduct themselves in a responsible manner."
The incident has also raised questions about the AfD’s growing presence in German soccer. The party has been accused of using sports clubs as a platform to promote its nationalist and anti-immigrant agenda.
Several German soccer clubs have taken a hard line against AfD politicians and supporters, banning them from stadiums and issuing public statements condemning their views.
Hansa Rostock’s actions have been welcomed by anti-racism organizations, who have long campaigned against the AfD’s infiltration of soccer.
The club’s firm stance has sent a clear message that political extremism and discrimination have no place in sports. It remains to be seen whether other soccer clubs will follow Hans Rostock’s lead in taking a strong stand against AfD politicians and their supporters.
