My last column posted last week discussed three derbies: LAFC-LA Galaxy, Dortmund-Schalke, and Braca-Real. I described derbies as the following:
Football derbies are like nothing else in the world. They are times where fans and supporters come together despite their differences and target a known enemy, real or perceived. These enemies may have been created due to differences centered around geography, culture, socio-economic classes, or politics. These real-life issues provide the high-octane fuel and the game itself, circled in black permanent marker, is the spark. The result is a match with high levels of expectations and hopes that a victory vindicates, for the moment, all the wrongs inflicted upon them and even life itself.
Another example of this occurred last weekend in Berlin.
Berlin is probably not listed very high up on anyone’s favorite European capitals. For most people, the German capital probably ranks up there with Moscow and Warsaw as immediate travel destinations. Dippy the Pirate Bear is keen to the underground scene in the Russian capital. He knows a great number of “officials” wearing giant rabbit and shark costumes with large weapons helping to find resolution to people’s gambling issues.
I am partial to Berlin. The biggest reason is recent history. When I was born, the Berlin Wall separating the east and west sector of the city had been in place for ten years. The Wall was built by the Soviet Union in August 1961 as an attempt to literally put a wall in the middle of a city to keep people from leaving the communist zone in the east for the capitalist zone in the west. This was the latest in a series of events of superpower conflict centered in the bombed out former capital of the worst dictatorship in history. The Soviets initiated the Berlin Blockade in June 1948 to starve out the western zone as Berlin was in the middle of the Russian zone as part of post-WWII occupation. This led to the Berlin Airlift by the Western allies, which resulted in the blockade being lifted. The Wall, lined with barbed wire, soldiers with guns, checkpoints, and tanks was the indelible symbol of the Cold War that as a child I grew up with. When I learned about this city separated by ideology, political, and socio-economics I was completely fascinated.
November 9th marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This event was the symbolic end of the Cold War and one of the most influential moments in my life. I watched in stunned silent astonishment as East German soldiers overwhelmed and confused by their orders allowed for the wall to be breached and the party began. It was beautiful to watch people unrestrained by the barbed wire, soldiers, and tanks danced and broke off pieces of the wall (my wife bought a piece of that wall from someone who was a ‘reputable dealer’). The war that was named Cold, which actually was luke warm (Hellllllllllooooooo, Vieeeetnnnaaaammm!!!!!) was ending. This was the backdrop of my freshman year at college and the end of my childhood. Two days later, I traveled to Marion, South Carolina for the first time. My destiny was set like Anakin Skywalker.
I have traveled to Berlin many times since the end of the Cold War. My first trip was in the summer of 1991 as the demolition of the Wall was coming to an end. At that time, there still was a physical wall in places. Large empty spaces had been created where tanks and soldiers used to reside. The physical barriers were disappearing, but the barriers of ideology, economics, and politics remained. The western half of the city continued to bask in the fruits of western democracy and liberalism. The eastern zone bore the marks of socialist utopia gone horribly wrong. The differences were stark and amazing. It was my first trip to Berlin where I bought my first football shirts. One was for the West German national team and the other was for Hannover 96.
In subsequent trips to German capital, I discovered that as the physical remnants of the Wall were disappearing the intangible walls remained present. The eastern zone continued to struggle in its adjustment to living in a newly unified city and country. Despite efforts of the national, city, and regional government, the economic, social, and psychological ‘recovery’ was slow to gain momentum. In the new re-unified Germany in the 1990’s the former West Germany continued to grow economically and politically while former East Germany (already three decades behind the west) continued to fall further behind even as improvements were made. Berlin, re-named capital of all Germany in June 1991, was not immune to the continued drift.
This resulted in a growing resentment in east Berlin and the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) that the economic rejuvenation promised by the Cold War ‘victors’ in the west would not come to reality and that they were being ‘left behind.’ Ironically, it was not just people in the east that were feeling left behind as regions in the west (such as the Ruhr region) were also feeling ‘left behind’ as well.
As in all places in the world, economics and politics is part of our daily lives. What is also clear is that economic resentment leads to political resentment. This resentment will be played out in culture and specifically in sports.
1 FC Union Berlin e.V., in its current incarnation, was founded in 1966 and has roots dating back to 1906. The club is also known as Die Eisernen (‘The Iron Ones’) and they are based in Kopenick, Berlin. The play in the 22,012 capacity Stadion An Der Alten Forsterei (Stadium At the Old Forester’s Lodge). The stadium based in eastern Berlin was in such bad shape that the German football authorities threatened the club’s license to play in the 2000s. As an example of the culture of the club, in 2008, over 2,300 volunteer supporters completed most of the initial stadium renovations. The club is well known as having a spirited, contrarian, raucous, and creative ultra group.
Given its roots in former East Berlin, the club’s culture has been distinctly blue collar and social democratic in its orientation, which matches the Kopenick area of Berlin. The club and their field being a flash point of resistance to the communist regime in East Germany throughout the Cold War period. The supporter’s groups are also well known for rather creative initiatives. The club, usually hurting for cash, has had difficulties maintaining its license to play due to lack of funding. In 2004, supporters raised money for the club in a campaign called “Bleed for Union.” This initiative was meant for members to bleed literally through giving blood to local hospitals and blood banks and giving the proceeds to the club. The club is also known for its Christmas tradition of people just showing up at the stadium during the yuletide season and drinking mulled wine, singing, and waving candles.
Die Eisernen started in the East German leagues from their founding until German reunification with some moderate football success including an East German Cup victory in 1968. After reunification, Union Berlin ended up in Germany’s third tier league fighting for promotion. In 2009, the club was able to fight its way to the 2. Bundesliga. For the next decade they remained a mid-table squad with little hope of promotion to the top tier. This all changed at the end of last season as Union Berlin reached a coveted third place finish leading to a two-leg play-off with Stuttgart who was third from the bottom of the Bundesliga. The winner goes (or stays) in the Bundesliga with the loser in the second tier. The Iron Ones shocked everyone, but Dippy the Pirate Bear, by winning on the away goal rule, 2-2. By doing so, they were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history and the first club from former East Berlin to reach the first tier.
Waiting for them in the Bundesliga was the other representative from the capital, Hertha Berlin (official name Hertha Berliner Sport-Club e.V. Known also as Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady), Hertha Berlin, is based in former West Berlin and play at the Olympiastadion Berlin (capacity 74,649) located just west of the city center. The nickname is fitting as the club originated 127 years ago. They were one of the inaugural members of the Bundesliga in 1963. Initially, in the league they faced some major scandals. Hertha was relegated in 1965 for bribing players to play in a divided Berlin. The club was also involved in a match fixing scandal in 1971 where it was discovered they had a major debt crisis. Throughout the years, they have had significant periods of financial difficulties which required significant changes and or sales of property and other assets.
Die Alte Dame has always had a strong following in Berlin. This has had more to do with their history and their status as being the top club in the capital. They had a large following in the Cold War period prior to the Wall from people in the eastern zone of the city. When the Wall was erected, supporters found it impossible to continue to attend matches and ran afoul of the German secret police (the Stasi) for showing their support for Hertha.
The Old Lady has not had long stretches of significant success. They have bounced back and forth from the 1st and 2nd division multiple times over the last several decades. Their best decade of success in the Bundesliga was during the 2000’s as they qualified for European play several times, but never quite making the Champions League. Their last German championship was in 1931. They won the 2. Bundesliga title in 1990, 2011, and 2013. Hertha has only been runners-up in the German Cup. They have shown improvement since re-entering the Bundesliga for the 2012-13 season.
On January 27th, 1990, a few months after the Wall crumbled, Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin played for the first time in 28 years. Many spectators felt at that time that this was a celebration of a unified Berlin. Many fans of both sides celebrated together “arm in arm….hugging and celebrating together.” As both Berlin teams went into different directions on the pitch, the friendliness also quickly eroded away as the jubilation of reunification gave away to the reality of the stark differences between west and east. More specifically, how each club saw themselves and the world around them in the new reality of the post Cold War era. Hertha Berlin quickly began to see themselves as representatives of “all Berlin.” Supporters of Union Berlin saw themselves as representatives of the rebellious working-class district of Kopenick. They did not see The Old Lady as representing them due to geography, economics, and ideology as the eastern German working class districts continued to feel left behind in the new Germany that was rapidly becoming a larger economic power in Europe.
However, many people scoff at the idea that the rivalry between the two clubs as anything to do with the differences between east and west. Many of these people simply see that the rivalry is like all other city rivalries. This view does not consider the simple fact that all city football rivalries are based on geography, ideology, and economics in some combination.
With both clubs now in the Bundesliga they were slated to face each other twice this season. Hertha wanted the first derby match to be held on November 9th, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Union Berlin refused.
Hertha Berlin head coach Ante Covic stated the following to describe the relationship between his club and Union:
“(Hertha) is a club for the whole of Berlin, which you can see in the fact that we train in all 12 districts of Berlin…I can only remember a friendly relationship between Hertha and Union and that we played friendlies against one another…the rivalry we have today has grown over several years due to various reasons. I think the city is big enough that we can make use of the remaining 12 districts. We should only measure ourselves against Union on the pitch.”
In response to Die Alte Dame’s request to play the first derby on the anniversary of the fall of the Wall, Union’s president stated the following:
“For me it’s a derby, it stands for rivalry, demarcation, and footballing class warfare. I think its absurd to give this match the friendly character under the mantra of playing for German unity.”
The first Berlin derby in Bundesliga history involving teams from former East and West Berlin was held last Saturday at the Stadion An Der Alten Forsterei. Going into the match, Hertha was sitting at the top of the bottom half of the table. Their xGDiff (expected goal differential) was ranked 12th in the league and their xPTS (expected points) put them in 11th. They had lost their previous game at home to Hoffenheim and drew away at Werder the week before. Union Berlin was sitting near the bottom of the table at the start of the matchday last weekend desperately seeking points to stay out of the drop zone. They were 17th in xGDiff and in XPTS. Their xG in the last four matches was 1.48, 0.51, 0.76, and 0.13 equaling out to one win and three losses.
As far as match play was concerned, the first half was sloppy, uncoordinated, and lacking in quality as both teams figured out how to self-destruct any momentum they may have. Union Berlin controlled most of the match overall as Hertha was content doing nothing but counter strikes leading to more nothing. Die Eisernen also continued their pattern of having difficulty in being able to create goal chances and being able to frustrate opponents on defense at just the right moment.
The 22,012 seat stadium appeared much larger as the loud raucous chanting, singing, and jumping from the opposite supporter’s sections was deafening even on TV several thousand miles away. The Hertha away section seemed much larger than what I have seen at other matches. Their entire contingent was dressed in either all blue or all white hoodies and they coordinated their positions to a be a replica of Die Alte Dame’s shirts or the flag on their club crest. At the opening of the match, Union ultras unfurled a blatantly homophobic banner directed at their opponents.
On the pitch, the first half ended in a dreary 0-0 draw.
Two minutes into the second half, the match on the pitch droned on. A tifo showed itself in the blue and white supporter’s section. Meanwhile, Die Eisernen ultras remained steadfast with banners, chants, and songs – for two minutes.
As the clock passed the 47th minute mark, the home ultras lit what appeared to be thousands of red flares. It appeared that the section behind the home goal was engulfed in flames. The billowing smoke from the flares began to invade the middle of the pitch. Not to be outdone, the Hertha ultras started lighting their flares.
Too much of a good thing is always bad. Too much water is bad. Too many orange Tic Tacs are bad. Too much work is bad. Too much cheese crackers are bad. Too many cats are bad. Too many puppies are bad. Too much sex is bad (is it?). Being obsessively fanatical about your football club is always bad. Moments after Hertha Berlin ultras started playing with fire, burning flares started to be launched onto the pitch. One landed just behind the Union goal. Several flares were launched deflecting off the ceiling and into areas where families of home supporters were sitting. A minute later, a flare landed just meters behind the Union Berlin goalie. Several more were launched from the Hertha ultra section landing close to the touchline. The stadium eventually turned into a putrid smoke cloud. Eventually, the referee paused the match and the two teams went into their dressing rooms.
Roughly ten minutes later, play resumed. A tense calm prevailed throughout the stadium. The ominous chanting continued.
A quite controversial penalty was called against Hertha in the 88th minute, which led to home side’s Sebastian Polter driving a kick through the net for the only goal of the game. Die Eisernen won the derby, 1-0 giving them a much needed three points and bragging rights in the capital city. As the match was ending, both ultra-groups began burning the opposing club’s jerseys in the stands.
Unfortunately, Union ultras were not satisfied with just bragging rights. They needed something else. Fueled by misdirected resentment, anger, alcohol, and a siege mentality several ultras invaded the pitch at the end of the match to physically attack Hertha players as they were headed off. More flares were launched in random directions from the Hertha ultra section landing in fan areas with families and children and onto the pitch. Local police appeared overmatched as they needed assistance from Union players to keep the ultras dressed in their typical balaclavas from causing further chaos.
I have watched multiple videos from spectators at the match. It is unclear which ultra group started projecting their deep seeded fanatical rage and resentments first. In the end, it was multiple steps too far. The atmosphere by supporters or ultras at football matches is one of the remarkable things that makes the sport such a wonderful life affirming spectacle. These groups sing, chant, jump, dance, celebrate, and join together as a community for a common cause against a real or perceived enemy. Most of the time, its harmless and provides a fun outlet. This is one of things that makes going to matches and supporting your chosen club so joyful.
When this exuberance turns to launching flares and other things into the stands where families are gathered to watch their home team, setting fires, launching burning objects (or worse) onto the pitch, attacking other people, invading the pitch, chanting racial slurs, putting up homophobic banners, and exhibiting other acts of violence or intimidation it is extremely dangerous to everyone involved. It is dangerous for people in the stands, the players on the field, the match officials, the authorities, and the game itself. It too much of a good thing that has turned irrevocably bad. It is inexcusable. It is unacceptable.
German football authorities have done a great deal over the years to tackle overzealous ultra behavior with moderate success. It is up to the DFB (the German FA) to initiate stronger penalties for clubs that fail to take appropriate measures to stop these events from occurring which should include playing in front of empty stadiums, point deductions, and possible relegation for serious offending clubs. Football is a game that should be life-affirming for everyone. Dangerous, illegal, and inappropriate behavior by a small minority of ultras makes football horrid and repulsive.
The next derby is scheduled for March at the Olympiastadion. At the site of the unification derby in 1990, this new version of the Berlin Derby should be played in an empty stadium.
Author: Keith Lisenbee, mental health professional, writer, and soccer enthusiast is from Atlanta, Georgia by way of Virginia. I was in love with soccer until Agüero destroyed my soul and Manchester United's title hopes in 2012. I came back for the World Cup in 2014 and through the use of DVR, I am back with the force of orange Tic Tacs and IPAs covering the EPL, Bundesliga, MLS, and La Liga. You can follow me on Twitter @keith_lisenbee and Instagram @lisenbeekeith got more random soccer thoughts.