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In the block of 96 fans, portraits of, among others, Hanover's professional managing director Martin Kind could be seen, marked with crosshairs

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Daniel Haase / Lobeca / IMAGO

After fan protests, managing director Martin Kind of Hannover 96 announced consequences in a first short statement, including crosshair banners and his face in the middle. »I don't want to comment on that now. There will be reactions. End," said the football official to the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung." “The important thing is that you have to decide something,” said the 79-year-old, without first going into details.

Hamburger SV's second division game against Hannover 96 (3:4) was about to be canceled in the second half with an interruption of more than 30 minutes in the second half due to protests against the planned entry of an investor into the German Football League (DFL) on Friday evening .

The trigger was three banners in the block of 96 fans with portraits of Hanover's professional managing director Martin Kind as well as the German head of CVC Capitals, Alexander Dibelius, and Blackstone boss Stephen Schwarzman. All portraits were marked with a crosshair.

Hanover's coach Stefan Leitl criticized the form of the protest: "We always hear that football belongs to the fans. But football also belongs to us footballers. And we love this sport too,” he said on Friday evening. »That's why we should be allowed to play. Fair protest is okay. Please don’t do anything else in our stadiums.”

96 sports director Marcus Mann warned of an escalation of the situation. »Of course things cannot and must not continue as they are at the moment. The mood in the stadium threatens to change at some point," he told the TV channel Sky. Crosshair posters are “an absurdity.”

“Game interruption now”

The start of the second half had already been delayed. Some supporters from the north curve of the HSV managed to lock heavy bicycle locks on the posts of a gate. The locks could only be removed using a power cutter. Objects also flew onto the field. The 96 supporters called for “consistent action in the event of personalized threats of violence” and “interruption of the game now” on other banners – and that’s what happened.

Child plays a central role in the dispute between some of the fans and the DFL. The managing director of the professional department in Hanover is said to have voted for the entry of an investor at the DFL general meeting in December, contrary to his club's instructions, and thus secured the decisive 24th yes vote. He himself never said how he voted. (Read more about the background here)

The DFL is currently considering offers from Blackstone and CVC. At its core, it is particularly about strengthening foreign marketing. The investor is expected to pay one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenue. Of the 36 professional clubs, a two-thirds majority voted to continue the talks; the narrow vote result is being questioned by organized fan groups. The resistance has been simmering for months.

On Saturday there were again protests and interruptions lasting several minutes in the Bundesliga stadiums.

ngo/dpa/sid