Enlarge image
There have recently been a number of violent incidents on Bremen's amateur courses
Photo: Oliver Baumgart / foto2press / IMAGO
Due to a recent "high number" of incidents of violence, hatred and discrimination in its leagues, the Bremen Football Association (BFV) has canceled all league, cup and friendly games in its jurisdiction for the coming weekend.
The association announced this on Friday.
Accordingly, the BFV board made the decision to ban the game on Thursday evening at an extraordinary meeting.
Last weekend alone there were several incidents that were reported to the association.
For example, after a men's game, a pack formed, "during which, among other things, there were kicks in the head and a knife being pulled," the BFV wrote in a statement.
On another pitch there were threats of violence and discriminatory comments towards the referee.
»Last weekend a new, sad peak was reached in the quality of incidents on our sports fields.
We are not prepared to accept this situation any further," BFV President Patrick von Haacke is quoted as saying: "With this weekend without games, we hope to be able to raise awareness of the issue even more so that violence and discrimination are not tolerated by anyone in sport, but are clearly excluded become."
The ban on playing applies from the D-youth upwards.
The association announced that national games would not be affected by the measure.
cev/sid