FC St. Pauli must explain itself to the German Football Association (DFB) following racist incidents during their DFB-Pokal match. The DFB control committee has demanded a statement from the second division club regarding 'Nazi pig' chants from the away block during the game at Rot-Weiss Essen.
Coach Fabian Hürzeler's team lost the first-round cup match last weekend 0:2. The club currently sits in 14th place in the 2. Bundesliga with three points from four games and a goal difference of 6:7. The next challenge awaits on September 12th with a home match against third-placed VfL Wolfsburg. The full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
What exactly did the DFB demand from St. Pauli?
The DFB control committee is demanding more than just a written statement from FC St. Pauli about the incidents. The club is also required to actively assist in identifying the individuals involved and to present its own efforts to clarify the matter. The Hamburg-based club initially responded with a brief standard statement to the request. "FC St. Pauli generally does not comment on ongoing proceedings," the club stated. It added that it has no issue with the DFB investigating the incidents from the match in Essen.
Simultaneously, the club confirmed it possesses image material showing a Hitler salute during the match. Also, numerous stickers with the slogan 'Crush Antifa' were spotted in the Rot-Weiss Essen stadium. On this, FC St. Pauli clarified: "Also, we would like to state fundamentally: Anti-fascism is not a crime." This stance is a core component of the club's philosophy.
Were there other incidents during the cup match?
Yes, the DFB's investigations are not limited to the incidents originating from the away section. Previously, the association had already requested a statement from Rot-Weiss Essen regarding sexist insults and obscene gestures. These were allegedly directed from the home stands at a female FC St. Pauli employee. This places the entire match under a dark shadow that extends beyond the sporting result.
The MillernTon report also references prior coverage concerning right-wing extremist individuals within the Rot-Weiss Essen fan scene. The club from the Ruhr area reportedly has a history of right-wing extremist incidents at its matches. The current investigation fits into this pattern.
What's next for St. Pauli in the league?
Sportingly, FC St. Pauli needs to quickly move past the negative headlines. The record from the first four league games-zero wins, three draws, and one loss-has room for improvement. With three points, the team is seven points behind league leaders 1. FC Nürnberg. Defensive stability is a topic after conceding seven goals.
The upcoming tasks are demanding. The home match against strong opponents VfL Wolfsburg requires full concentration. The current squad list shows which players coach Hürzeler can rely on. A look at the standings underlines how important points are in the lower part of the table. The team must now provide answers on the pitch.
The next opportunity to do so is on September 12th at their home stadium. The clash with Wolfsburg is scheduled for 3:30 PM and offers the chance to end the winless streak so far.
