Matt Ford
@matt4d.bsky.social
Freelance journalist based in Germany | German & European football, sports politics & fan culture | The Guardian, The New European, London Evening Standard, BBC Sport, DW Sports, 11Freunde, SoFoot, etc | United We Stand 🇾🇪
Pinned
Matt Ford
@matt4d.bsky.social
· Mar 24
Twenty years of Borussia Dortmund: Watzke on near-bankruptcy, selling players and Klopp
In an exclusive interview the Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke discusses his two decades at the club, saying it has given him more than he was able to give back
www.theguardian.com
🟡 Hans-Joachim Watzke is stepping down after 20 years as Borussia Dortmund CEO
🟡 He insists he's leaving the club "stronger than ever" financially - but is frustrated by the team's current #Bundesliga struggles
🟡 Exclusive interview for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
🟡 He insists he's leaving the club "stronger than ever" financially - but is frustrated by the team's current #Bundesliga struggles
🟡 Exclusive interview for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Both coaches critical of VAR after Rhineland derby:
Eugen Polanski (Gladbach): "I'm absolutely no friend of VAR. And it's getting worse. Even if we benefitted from it today, I just don't see the point. The penalty against us is never, ever a penalty. The refs' performances are influenced by VAR."
Eugen Polanski (Gladbach): "I'm absolutely no friend of VAR. And it's getting worse. Even if we benefitted from it today, I just don't see the point. The penalty against us is never, ever a penalty. The refs' performances are influenced by VAR."
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Both coaches critical of VAR after Rhineland derby:
Eugen Polanski (Gladbach): "I'm absolutely no friend of VAR. And it's getting worse. Even if we benefitted from it today, I just don't see the point. The penalty against us is never, ever a penalty. The refs' performances are influenced by VAR."
Eugen Polanski (Gladbach): "I'm absolutely no friend of VAR. And it's getting worse. Even if we benefitted from it today, I just don't see the point. The penalty against us is never, ever a penalty. The refs' performances are influenced by VAR."
"The power from the Lower Rhine will always be greater."
Rhineland Derby report from Mönchengladbach for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/borussia-b...
Rhineland Derby report from Mönchengladbach for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/borussia-b...
Borussia back in business: Gladbach beat Köln to continue revival
Borussia Mönchengladbach's upturn in form continued with a clinical derby win over 1. FC Köln, with the impressive Haris Tabakovic again on the scoresheet.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"The power from the Lower Rhine will always be greater."
Rhineland Derby report from Mönchengladbach for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/borussia-b...
Rhineland Derby report from Mönchengladbach for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/borussia-b...
FT: Gladbach 3-1 Köln
A solid and clinical Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrate a deserved derby win - now 3 wins in 3 in all comps!
Two penalty decisions either side of HT set them on their way before Honorat remained calm to play in Tabakovic for the third. Late pen only consolation for Köln.
A solid and clinical Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrate a deserved derby win - now 3 wins in 3 in all comps!
Two penalty decisions either side of HT set them on their way before Honorat remained calm to play in Tabakovic for the third. Late pen only consolation for Köln.
November 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
FT: Gladbach 3-1 Köln
A solid and clinical Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrate a deserved derby win - now 3 wins in 3 in all comps!
Two penalty decisions either side of HT set them on their way before Honorat remained calm to play in Tabakovic for the third. Late pen only consolation for Köln.
A solid and clinical Borussia Mönchengladbach celebrate a deserved derby win - now 3 wins in 3 in all comps!
Two penalty decisions either side of HT set them on their way before Honorat remained calm to play in Tabakovic for the third. Late pen only consolation for Köln.
HT: Gladbach 1-0 Köln
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
November 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
HT: Gladbach 1-0 Köln
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
HT: Gladbach 1-0 Köln
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
November 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
HT: Gladbach 1-0 Köln
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
Drama in injury time at the end of a rather average first half. First, FC keeper Schwäbe brilliantly saves Tabakovic's penalty, but Köln fail to clear the resulting corner and Sander puts Gladbach ahead after all.
#bundesliga
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
"Hi, Julian Nagelsmann hier, ich bitte um Rückruf."
1. FC Köln's Said El Mala (19) tells Sky how he heard about his call-up to the German national team this week: after first ignoring an unknown number, he got a text reading: "Hi, Julian Nagelsmann here. Can you call me back?"
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln's Said El Mala (19) tells Sky how he heard about his call-up to the German national team this week: after first ignoring an unknown number, he got a text reading: "Hi, Julian Nagelsmann here. Can you call me back?"
#bundesliga
November 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"Hi, Julian Nagelsmann hier, ich bitte um Rückruf."
1. FC Köln's Said El Mala (19) tells Sky how he heard about his call-up to the German national team this week: after first ignoring an unknown number, he got a text reading: "Hi, Julian Nagelsmann here. Can you call me back?"
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln's Said El Mala (19) tells Sky how he heard about his call-up to the German national team this week: after first ignoring an unknown number, he got a text reading: "Hi, Julian Nagelsmann here. Can you call me back?"
#bundesliga
🇩🇪 #Bundesliga:
🔴 Bayern Munich's record 16-game winning streak comes to an end with a 2-2 draw away at - obviously - Union Berlin. Injury-time equaliser from - obviously - Harry Kane.
🟡 Borussia Dortmund can't capitalise, conceding an injury-time equaliser away at HSV (1-1).
🔴 Bayern Munich's record 16-game winning streak comes to an end with a 2-2 draw away at - obviously - Union Berlin. Injury-time equaliser from - obviously - Harry Kane.
🟡 Borussia Dortmund can't capitalise, conceding an injury-time equaliser away at HSV (1-1).
November 8, 2025 at 4:29 PM
🇩🇪 #Bundesliga:
🔴 Bayern Munich's record 16-game winning streak comes to an end with a 2-2 draw away at - obviously - Union Berlin. Injury-time equaliser from - obviously - Harry Kane.
🟡 Borussia Dortmund can't capitalise, conceding an injury-time equaliser away at HSV (1-1).
🔴 Bayern Munich's record 16-game winning streak comes to an end with a 2-2 draw away at - obviously - Union Berlin. Injury-time equaliser from - obviously - Harry Kane.
🟡 Borussia Dortmund can't capitalise, conceding an injury-time equaliser away at HSV (1-1).
November 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"Prometheus left us fire so that we may unleash it for Dynamo"
SG Dynamo Dresden at home to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. Just a regular Friday night in Dresden.
FT: Dynamo 1-2 Nürnberg
SG Dynamo Dresden at home to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. Just a regular Friday night in Dresden.
FT: Dynamo 1-2 Nürnberg
November 8, 2025 at 11:11 AM
"Prometheus left us fire so that we may unleash it for Dynamo"
SG Dynamo Dresden at home to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. Just a regular Friday night in Dresden.
FT: Dynamo 1-2 Nürnberg
SG Dynamo Dresden at home to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. Just a regular Friday night in Dresden.
FT: Dynamo 1-2 Nürnberg
Reposted by Matt Ford
If you read anything this weekend, make it this by @barneyronay.bsky.social - www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Silence over Sudan: why do Manchester City’s owners get away with so much?
Two midweek matches in England had a backdrop of war and geopolitics, but only one drew large protests
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
If you read anything this weekend, make it this by @barneyronay.bsky.social - www.theguardian.com/football/202...
"The Sword of Damocles hangs over football"
The "Fanszenen Deutschlands" (alliance of German ultra groups) have released a statement ahead of the annual meeting of state interior ministers (IMK) on Dec 3, warning of "populist" restrictions to be imposed on football supporters.
What's at stake?
The "Fanszenen Deutschlands" (alliance of German ultra groups) have released a statement ahead of the annual meeting of state interior ministers (IMK) on Dec 3, warning of "populist" restrictions to be imposed on football supporters.
What's at stake?
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
"The Sword of Damocles hangs over football"
The "Fanszenen Deutschlands" (alliance of German ultra groups) have released a statement ahead of the annual meeting of state interior ministers (IMK) on Dec 3, warning of "populist" restrictions to be imposed on football supporters.
What's at stake?
The "Fanszenen Deutschlands" (alliance of German ultra groups) have released a statement ahead of the annual meeting of state interior ministers (IMK) on Dec 3, warning of "populist" restrictions to be imposed on football supporters.
What's at stake?
VfB Stuttgart at home to Feyenoord in the Europa League last night after another week in which German football supporters (aka: EU citizens) faced repressive policing and arbitrary restrictions upon their freedom of movement in Naples (Frankfurt), Paris (Bayern) and Nice (Freiburg).
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
VfB Stuttgart at home to Feyenoord in the Europa League last night after another week in which German football supporters (aka: EU citizens) faced repressive policing and arbitrary restrictions upon their freedom of movement in Naples (Frankfurt), Paris (Bayern) and Nice (Freiburg).
Reposted by Matt Ford
Keine Frankfurt-Fans in Neapel, Bayern-Fans dürfen in Paris nachts im Bus schlafen und Freiburg-Fans werden in Nizza schikaniert. Wann machen wir denn endlich mal was für Fanrechte bei Europapokalspielen?
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Keine Frankfurt-Fans in Neapel, Bayern-Fans dürfen in Paris nachts im Bus schlafen und Freiburg-Fans werden in Nizza schikaniert. Wann machen wir denn endlich mal was für Fanrechte bei Europapokalspielen?
Reposted by Matt Ford
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Bayern slam Paris fan treatment, BVB ultras' tennis ball protest, Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Reposted by Matt Ford
🇩🇪 Sign up to Gegenpressing for weekly German fan culture updates - and more. You won’t find this sort of stuff anywhere else, and we appreciate the support :)
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
🇩🇪 Sign up to Gegenpressing for weekly German fan culture updates - and more. You won’t find this sort of stuff anywhere else, and we appreciate the support :)
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
The use (even possession) of pyrotechnics at (or even near) a UK football ground is punishable by up to three months in jail, yet Jamie Carragher is being celebrated for holding a lit flare on the Dortmund fan march in Manchester last night. One rule for some?
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The use (even possession) of pyrotechnics at (or even near) a UK football ground is punishable by up to three months in jail, yet Jamie Carragher is being celebrated for holding a lit flare on the Dortmund fan march in Manchester last night. One rule for some?
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Bayern slam Paris fan treatment, BVB ultras' tennis ball protest, Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris
🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls
🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised
🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Whether Bayern Munich, Manchester city or 1. FC Köln, Borussia Dortmund only ever turn up in the second half against the top teams. #BVB
November 5, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Whether Bayern Munich, Manchester city or 1. FC Köln, Borussia Dortmund only ever turn up in the second half against the top teams. #BVB
Joshua Kimmich: "That was one of the most intensive halves of football in my career. After 25 minutes, I looked up and thought: woah. It was man and against man, Paris rotating their positions a lot, and you have to follow. Not easy."
Outstanding from Bayern Munich. 50 minutes with ten men. Chapeau.
November 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Joshua Kimmich: "That was one of the most intensive halves of football in my career. After 25 minutes, I looked up and thought: woah. It was man and against man, Paris rotating their positions a lot, and you have to follow. Not easy."
Outstanding from Bayern Munich. 50 minutes with ten men. Chapeau.
November 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Outstanding from Bayern Munich. 50 minutes with ten men. Chapeau.
"Whether tickets, Levi’s, western TV or a return to the GDR, you’re always demanding something!"
Hertha BSC ultras’ message for Dynamo Dresden, who have up to 30,000 supporters at the Olympiastadion today, and had publicly demanded more tickets in the last few weeks.
📷 @shermanns.bsky.social
Hertha BSC ultras’ message for Dynamo Dresden, who have up to 30,000 supporters at the Olympiastadion today, and had publicly demanded more tickets in the last few weeks.
📷 @shermanns.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM
"Whether tickets, Levi’s, western TV or a return to the GDR, you’re always demanding something!"
Hertha BSC ultras’ message for Dynamo Dresden, who have up to 30,000 supporters at the Olympiastadion today, and had publicly demanded more tickets in the last few weeks.
📷 @shermanns.bsky.social
Hertha BSC ultras’ message for Dynamo Dresden, who have up to 30,000 supporters at the Olympiastadion today, and had publicly demanded more tickets in the last few weeks.
📷 @shermanns.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Ford
It is now 1,000 days since Manchester City were charged by the Premier League.
November 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM
It is now 1,000 days since Manchester City were charged by the Premier League.
🎾 "We decide when you play: pro Saturdays at 15:30"
Borussia Dortmund ultras' tennis ball protest against anti-social kick-off times away at Augsburg (Fri 20:30, 575km away), complete with ticking clock banner counting the minutes until play could resume.
FT: Augsburg 0–1 BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de
Borussia Dortmund ultras' tennis ball protest against anti-social kick-off times away at Augsburg (Fri 20:30, 575km away), complete with ticking clock banner counting the minutes until play could resume.
FT: Augsburg 0–1 BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de
November 1, 2025 at 9:32 AM
🎾 "We decide when you play: pro Saturdays at 15:30"
Borussia Dortmund ultras' tennis ball protest against anti-social kick-off times away at Augsburg (Fri 20:30, 575km away), complete with ticking clock banner counting the minutes until play could resume.
FT: Augsburg 0–1 BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de
Borussia Dortmund ultras' tennis ball protest against anti-social kick-off times away at Augsburg (Fri 20:30, 575km away), complete with ticking clock banner counting the minutes until play could resume.
FT: Augsburg 0–1 BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de
🇩🇪 On the Terraces this week:
👮♂️ BVB ultras on latest police figures: "The stats don’t lie: the stadium is safe!"
🏴☠️ St. Pauli ultras miss game after "disproportionate" policing
🏟️ Niedersachsenderby with no fan restrictions - and no issues
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
👮♂️ BVB ultras on latest police figures: "The stats don’t lie: the stadium is safe!"
🏴☠️ St. Pauli ultras miss game after "disproportionate" policing
🏟️ Niedersachsenderby with no fan restrictions - and no issues
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Police stats on stadium safety, St. Pauli ultras miss Frankfurt away, Niedersachsenderby with no restrictions
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
🇩🇪 On the Terraces this week:
👮♂️ BVB ultras on latest police figures: "The stats don’t lie: the stadium is safe!"
🏴☠️ St. Pauli ultras miss game after "disproportionate" policing
🏟️ Niedersachsenderby with no fan restrictions - and no issues
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
👮♂️ BVB ultras on latest police figures: "The stats don’t lie: the stadium is safe!"
🏴☠️ St. Pauli ultras miss game after "disproportionate" policing
🏟️ Niedersachsenderby with no fan restrictions - and no issues
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...