DFB to investigate pyro-show from fans at Cup final
· Yahoo Sports
The German Football Federation (DFB) has announced it will investigate fan protests culminating in the lighting of large amounts of pyrotechnics by both camps which interrupted the Cup final between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart.
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The DFB confirmed to dpa that its control committee will probe the events in Berlin which could lead to big fines for both clubs.
Fans mainly protested in the second half, complaining on banners and in chants about high ticket prices for the match and about what they view as the federation's rigid enforcement of rules regarding fan misconduct.
One huge banner featuring the DFB logo crossed out with a red line and the words prosecutor, judge and executioner was paraded around the lower tier of the stadium before fans also made massive use of pyrotechnics after Bayern's first goal in their 3-0 win.
The DFB did not say how the banners and large numbers of flares and other pyrotechnics were brought into the Olympic Stadium.
The DFB said during the match that while it "welcomes a lively fan culture" it can not be that the fans "decide about match interruptions or even matches being abandoned."
The clubs condemned the incidents, with Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness saying that "clubs, the DFB and the politcal side must take tough action that such outrages don't happen any more."
Stuttgart chairman of the board Alexander Wehrle was a little more modest: "We support fan culture in general. But it is also clear that I don't wish for matches to be interrupted because the football should be at the centre over the 90 minutes."