German football club Borussia Dortmund has issued a formal protest against what it describes as “disproportionate” police interventions preventing its supporters from traveling to Italy for the critical Champions League playoff match against Atalanta. The club expressed astonishment at the unprecedented scale of security measures implemented by authorities, noting such intensive protocols had never been encountered during previous international away fixtures.
The controversy emerged as German police instituted travel bans against approximately 300 identified Dortmund fans over the weekend, with Italian law enforcement simultaneously conducting visits to supporters who had already arrived in Bergamo. While some initial prohibitions were successfully challenged through expedited legal proceedings, the widespread security operations created insurmountable barriers for many fans attempting to reach the match venue.
In response to these developments, Südtribune Dortmund, an umbrella organization representing multiple fan groups, announced its collective decision to abstain from attending the match in protest against what it termed “flimsy reasons” for the travel restrictions. This voluntary boycott compounds the situation created by the official bans.
Borussia Dortmund, which maintains a 2-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, officially registered its disappointment that loyal supporters would be absent from the decisive playoff match due to what the club considers questionable administrative actions by German and Italian authorities. The club has requested comprehensive clarification regarding the legal foundations and operational rationale behind these security measures.