The influential FC St. Pauli fan group 'Ultrà Sankt Pauli' has this week publicly disclosed incidents of abuse within its own ranks. The group published cases of sexualized, physical, and psychological violence and permanently expelled several fans.
FC St. Pauli's current season has begun with two draws. The team sits in 14th place in the 2. Bundesliga with two points, having scored three goals and conceded three in the opening two matches. The next opportunity to earn points comes with the home fixture against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on August 30th.
What did the ultras group disclose?
Ultrà Sankt Pauli, which describes itself as the largest and most influential group in FC St. Pauli's active fan scene, became aware of serious allegations during the summer break. The group announced it had permanently expelled several members following internal investigations. The disclosed cases involve sexualized, physical, and psychological violence as well as abuse of power.
The group acknowledged it had known the perpetrators for many years and spent countless hours with them. "Although we have known these people for many years in some cases and spent countless hours with them, we could not prevent them from becoming perpetrators," read a statement. An analysis of the incidents revealed structural deficits and blind spots within the group.
What structural problems were identified?
Ultrà Sankt Pauli recognizes it operates in an environment that can foster problematic behavior. "We are aware that as an ultras group we operate in an environment that structurally encourages abusive behavior on one hand and hinders its processing and clarification on the other," the group explained. A performance mentality, loyalty, power imbalances, and a questionable understanding of masculinity play a central role in this subculture.
The internal processing of the incidents is not yet complete. It is not yet known what potential legal consequences the disclosed cases may have. The reaction from FC St. Pauli as a club is also still pending. The club must currently focus on sporting matters and sits seven points behind league leaders Hertha BSC in the table.
What's next for FC St. Pauli?
The disclosure of incidents by its own fan scene presents FC St. Pauli with a new challenge off the pitch. While the team prepares for the important home match against Kaiserslautern, the club must also determine its position regarding the internal events within one of its most important fan groups. The development of the league position can be tracked on our standings page.
The coming weeks will show how the club handles the situation. For the fans and affected individuals, the complete clarification of the incidents is the priority. FC St. Pauli is at the beginning of a long season with two points from two games, where every bit of support counts. You can find the complete schedule on our fixtures page.
