Overview
- The agreement, signed Thursday, July 23, 2026, links the NRW interior ministry, the Bundespolizeidirektion St. Augustin and 16 professional clubs from the first three leagues in a renewed 'Kooperationsvereinbarung Stadionallianzen'.
- Clubs will take stronger on‑site responsibility through stricter entry checks, consistent enforcement of stadium bans, zero tolerance for pyrotechnics and improved training for security staff.
- Police will reduce routine in‑stadium presence and concentrate on situations that pose a danger to life and limb plus the security of arrival and departure routes handled by the Bundespolizei.
- Officials justified the step with rising incidents: ZIS reported a 73% increase to 4,783 pyrotechnics violations and 1,107 match‑related injuries in the 2024/25 season, and the ministry cited about 460,000 police work hours tied to football operations.
- Fan groups including Unsere Kurve and local fan projects say they were not properly consulted and warn the pact risks treating supporters mainly as a problem rather than investing in prevention and dialogue.