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...
🇾🇪 New United We Stand out at Old Trafford vs. Newcastle this evening
🍋 Includes some wonderful tributes to Mani. You really were adored.
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester!
#mufc
🍋 Includes some wonderful tributes to Mani. You really were adored.
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester!
#mufc
December 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
🇾🇪 New United We Stand out at Old Trafford vs. Newcastle this evening
🍋 Includes some wonderful tributes to Mani. You really were adored.
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester!
#mufc
🍋 Includes some wonderful tributes to Mani. You really were adored.
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester!
#mufc
Reposted by Matt Ford
🙌🏼 Praise for On The Terraces this year
🙏 Thanks so much to all readers & subscribers for supporting what we do, and for the constructive feedback. Neither travel to and from games, nor time taken to produce informative journalism, is free. So, thank you for trusting and supporting us!
#bundesliga
🙏 Thanks so much to all readers & subscribers for supporting what we do, and for the constructive feedback. Neither travel to and from games, nor time taken to produce informative journalism, is free. So, thank you for trusting and supporting us!
#bundesliga
December 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
🙌🏼 Praise for On The Terraces this year
🙏 Thanks so much to all readers & subscribers for supporting what we do, and for the constructive feedback. Neither travel to and from games, nor time taken to produce informative journalism, is free. So, thank you for trusting and supporting us!
#bundesliga
🙏 Thanks so much to all readers & subscribers for supporting what we do, and for the constructive feedback. Neither travel to and from games, nor time taken to produce informative journalism, is free. So, thank you for trusting and supporting us!
#bundesliga
🇩🇪🎄 Frohe Weihnachten from the terraces!
⚫️ Magdeburg attack: one year on
🟡 Happy birthday, Eintracht Braunschweig!
🔴 Happy birthday, Ultras Düsseldorf!
👮♀️ Little seasonal good will for police
🎅🏼 Ultras’ Christmas greetings
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
⚫️ Magdeburg attack: one year on
🟡 Happy birthday, Eintracht Braunschweig!
🔴 Happy birthday, Ultras Düsseldorf!
👮♀️ Little seasonal good will for police
🎅🏼 Ultras’ Christmas greetings
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Christmas Special
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
December 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🇩🇪🎄 Frohe Weihnachten from the terraces!
⚫️ Magdeburg attack: one year on
🟡 Happy birthday, Eintracht Braunschweig!
🔴 Happy birthday, Ultras Düsseldorf!
👮♀️ Little seasonal good will for police
🎅🏼 Ultras’ Christmas greetings
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
⚫️ Magdeburg attack: one year on
🟡 Happy birthday, Eintracht Braunschweig!
🔴 Happy birthday, Ultras Düsseldorf!
👮♀️ Little seasonal good will for police
🎅🏼 Ultras’ Christmas greetings
Full stories on Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Confirmed: Bayern Munich ordered to close Südkurve blocks 111-114 vs. Union SG (Jan 21) and fined €116,000 for pyro, blocking exits plus incidents vs. Arsenal on Nov 26.
Also: Eintracht Frankfurt banned from selling tickets for next two away games, starting with Qarabag (Jan 21), and fined €38,000.
Also: Eintracht Frankfurt banned from selling tickets for next two away games, starting with Qarabag (Jan 21), and fined €38,000.
Bayern Munich & Eintracht Frankfurt could be facing supporter bans after incidents in the #UCL last night.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
December 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Confirmed: Bayern Munich ordered to close Südkurve blocks 111-114 vs. Union SG (Jan 21) and fined €116,000 for pyro, blocking exits plus incidents vs. Arsenal on Nov 26.
Also: Eintracht Frankfurt banned from selling tickets for next two away games, starting with Qarabag (Jan 21), and fined €38,000.
Also: Eintracht Frankfurt banned from selling tickets for next two away games, starting with Qarabag (Jan 21), and fined €38,000.
🇩🇪 On the terraces in Germany this week:
🇲🇨 Köln & Leverkusen ultras boycott Rhine Derby
🔴 Union Berlin anti-RB protest
🎂 Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, 1. FC Magdeburg!
🔵 Choreo of the week: Schalke 🤝 Nürnberg
Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇲🇨 Köln & Leverkusen ultras boycott Rhine Derby
🔴 Union Berlin anti-RB protest
🎂 Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, 1. FC Magdeburg!
🔵 Choreo of the week: Schalke 🤝 Nürnberg
Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Ultras boycott Rhine Derby, Union protest against RB
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
December 17, 2025 at 11:10 AM
🇩🇪 On the terraces in Germany this week:
🇲🇨 Köln & Leverkusen ultras boycott Rhine Derby
🔴 Union Berlin anti-RB protest
🎂 Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, 1. FC Magdeburg!
🔵 Choreo of the week: Schalke 🤝 Nürnberg
Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇲🇨 Köln & Leverkusen ultras boycott Rhine Derby
🔴 Union Berlin anti-RB protest
🎂 Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, 1. FC Magdeburg!
🔵 Choreo of the week: Schalke 🤝 Nürnberg
Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Reposted by Matt Ford
My favorite podcast of 2025!
#pocketcasts #playback2025
@manuelveth.bsky.social
@sbienkowski.bsky.social
@matt4d.bsky.social
#pocketcasts #playback2025
@manuelveth.bsky.social
@sbienkowski.bsky.social
@matt4d.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
My favorite podcast of 2025!
#pocketcasts #playback2025
@manuelveth.bsky.social
@sbienkowski.bsky.social
@matt4d.bsky.social
#pocketcasts #playback2025
@manuelveth.bsky.social
@sbienkowski.bsky.social
@matt4d.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Ford
⚠️ Lesenswert: Statement der Ultras Leverkusen zu den Vorkommnissen am Samstag und der „Historie“ der Eskalation der Sicherheitspolitik im Gästebereich der BayArena ⚠️ #bayer04 #B04KOE
Stellungnahme Derby — Ultras Leverkusen
ultras-leverkusen.de
December 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
🇩🇪 Saturday’s Rhine Derby between Bayer Leverkusen & 1. FC Köln (2-0) took place without either club‘s organised support. After the Südkurve Köln boycotted in protest at disproportionate security checks, including strip searches (!), the Ultras Leverkusen left the Nordkurve in solidarity. #bundesliga
December 14, 2025 at 9:50 AM
🇩🇪 Saturday’s Rhine Derby between Bayer Leverkusen & 1. FC Köln (2-0) took place without either club‘s organised support. After the Südkurve Köln boycotted in protest at disproportionate security checks, including strip searches (!), the Ultras Leverkusen left the Nordkurve in solidarity. #bundesliga
🎙️ Podcast: thoughts from Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle last night (plus a bit of Borussia Dortmund)
With @manuelveth.bsky.social & @sbienkowski.bsky.social
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/champions-...
With @manuelveth.bsky.social & @sbienkowski.bsky.social
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/champions-...
Champions League recap show: Leverkusen rescue late point, Dortmund throw two away
On the second bonus show of the week, Manu, Stefan, and Matt break down the Wednesday Champions League games involving German clubs.
gegenpressing.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
🎙️ Podcast: thoughts from Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle last night (plus a bit of Borussia Dortmund)
With @manuelveth.bsky.social & @sbienkowski.bsky.social
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/champions-...
With @manuelveth.bsky.social & @sbienkowski.bsky.social
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/champions-...
Marco Reus & Kevin Großkreutz on the Südtribüne with Borussia Dortmund‘s ultras last night.
Plus message: "6 matchdays are enough!"
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
Plus message: "6 matchdays are enough!"
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
December 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Marco Reus & Kevin Großkreutz on the Südtribüne with Borussia Dortmund‘s ultras last night.
Plus message: "6 matchdays are enough!"
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
Plus message: "6 matchdays are enough!"
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
"Give us a derby win!“
Both Leverkusen and Newcastle now look ahead to local derbies at the weekend: Leverkusen host 1. FC Köln, while Newcastle travel to Sunderland.
#UCL
Both Leverkusen and Newcastle now look ahead to local derbies at the weekend: Leverkusen host 1. FC Köln, while Newcastle travel to Sunderland.
#UCL
December 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"Give us a derby win!“
Both Leverkusen and Newcastle now look ahead to local derbies at the weekend: Leverkusen host 1. FC Köln, while Newcastle travel to Sunderland.
#UCL
Both Leverkusen and Newcastle now look ahead to local derbies at the weekend: Leverkusen host 1. FC Köln, while Newcastle travel to Sunderland.
#UCL
FT: Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle
The visitors - and Anthony Gordon in particular - stepped up a gear after the break, albeit with a massive helping hand from Mark Flekken. But B04 kept at it and Alejandro Grimaldo‘s late equaliser was as well-worked as it was deserved. Good game. Fair result. #UCL
The visitors - and Anthony Gordon in particular - stepped up a gear after the break, albeit with a massive helping hand from Mark Flekken. But B04 kept at it and Alejandro Grimaldo‘s late equaliser was as well-worked as it was deserved. Good game. Fair result. #UCL
HT: Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
December 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
FT: Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle
The visitors - and Anthony Gordon in particular - stepped up a gear after the break, albeit with a massive helping hand from Mark Flekken. But B04 kept at it and Alejandro Grimaldo‘s late equaliser was as well-worked as it was deserved. Good game. Fair result. #UCL
The visitors - and Anthony Gordon in particular - stepped up a gear after the break, albeit with a massive helping hand from Mark Flekken. But B04 kept at it and Alejandro Grimaldo‘s late equaliser was as well-worked as it was deserved. Good game. Fair result. #UCL
HT: Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
December 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
HT: Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
-B04 lead through a Guimaraes OG, but not undeservedly after posing a constant threat on counter
-NUFC more possession but Barnes the only real threat. Closest they’ve come was also nearly an OG
-Big away following. Blocks either side of away end full of Geordies
#UCL
VfB Stuttgart's active fan scene split over Thursday's Europa League game vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Ultra groups Schwabensturm & Schwabenkompanie will boycott due explicitly to restrictions on flags and banners, while leading ultra group Commando Cannstatt will attend, albeit in reduced form.
#UEL
Ultra groups Schwabensturm & Schwabenkompanie will boycott due explicitly to restrictions on flags and banners, while leading ultra group Commando Cannstatt will attend, albeit in reduced form.
#UEL
December 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
VfB Stuttgart's active fan scene split over Thursday's Europa League game vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Ultra groups Schwabensturm & Schwabenkompanie will boycott due explicitly to restrictions on flags and banners, while leading ultra group Commando Cannstatt will attend, albeit in reduced form.
#UEL
Ultra groups Schwabensturm & Schwabenkompanie will boycott due explicitly to restrictions on flags and banners, while leading ultra group Commando Cannstatt will attend, albeit in reduced form.
#UEL
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🏟️ Partial success for fan protests
👮♀️ Police still kettle Union Berlin ultras
⚓️ Nordderby: provocations, placards & pyro
🔴 Frankenderby choreos
🗣️ 50+1: Fans hit back at Hoeneß
Full stories in a packed Gegenpressing newsletter:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🏟️ Partial success for fan protests
👮♀️ Police still kettle Union Berlin ultras
⚓️ Nordderby: provocations, placards & pyro
🔴 Frankenderby choreos
🗣️ 50+1: Fans hit back at Hoeneß
Full stories in a packed Gegenpressing newsletter:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces at the Nordderby and Frankenderby, plus campaign victory for fans
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
December 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
🇩🇪 On the terraces this week:
🏟️ Partial success for fan protests
👮♀️ Police still kettle Union Berlin ultras
⚓️ Nordderby: provocations, placards & pyro
🔴 Frankenderby choreos
🗣️ 50+1: Fans hit back at Hoeneß
Full stories in a packed Gegenpressing newsletter:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🏟️ Partial success for fan protests
👮♀️ Police still kettle Union Berlin ultras
⚓️ Nordderby: provocations, placards & pyro
🔴 Frankenderby choreos
🗣️ 50+1: Fans hit back at Hoeneß
Full stories in a packed Gegenpressing newsletter:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Bayern Munich & Eintracht Frankfurt could be facing supporter bans after incidents in the #UCL last night.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
December 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Bayern Munich & Eintracht Frankfurt could be facing supporter bans after incidents in the #UCL last night.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
Bayern were already on a block closure (suspended for two years) for pyro in last season's L16 vs. Leverkusen, so could now be facing a closure of several Südkurve blocks vs. Union SG in Jan.
Reposted by Matt Ford
In private, enough football officials distanced themselves from the peace prize and Trump. But not Bernd Neuendorf, the German FA president and a FIFA Council Member.
December 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In private, enough football officials distanced themselves from the peace prize and Trump. But not Bernd Neuendorf, the German FA president and a FIFA Council Member.
A brilliant Nordderby:
🔷 HSV 3-2 Werder 🟢
- Huge performance from Lokonga
- Genius flick from Vuskovic
- Njinmah, a Hamburger, on the scoresheet for Werder
- Poulsen‘s winner: his first HSV goal
- Choreos, pyro & a deafening atmosphere
- FT on-field aggro
🇩🇪 The #Bundesliga is absolutely fine 👌🏼
🔷 HSV 3-2 Werder 🟢
- Huge performance from Lokonga
- Genius flick from Vuskovic
- Njinmah, a Hamburger, on the scoresheet for Werder
- Poulsen‘s winner: his first HSV goal
- Choreos, pyro & a deafening atmosphere
- FT on-field aggro
🇩🇪 The #Bundesliga is absolutely fine 👌🏼
December 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
A brilliant Nordderby:
🔷 HSV 3-2 Werder 🟢
- Huge performance from Lokonga
- Genius flick from Vuskovic
- Njinmah, a Hamburger, on the scoresheet for Werder
- Poulsen‘s winner: his first HSV goal
- Choreos, pyro & a deafening atmosphere
- FT on-field aggro
🇩🇪 The #Bundesliga is absolutely fine 👌🏼
🔷 HSV 3-2 Werder 🟢
- Huge performance from Lokonga
- Genius flick from Vuskovic
- Njinmah, a Hamburger, on the scoresheet for Werder
- Poulsen‘s winner: his first HSV goal
- Choreos, pyro & a deafening atmosphere
- FT on-field aggro
🇩🇪 The #Bundesliga is absolutely fine 👌🏼
December 7, 2025 at 2:40 PM
SC Fortuna Köln 3-0 Wuppertaler SV
(Regionalliga West - IV)
(Regionalliga West - IV)
December 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
SC Fortuna Köln 3-0 Wuppertaler SV
(Regionalliga West - IV)
(Regionalliga West - IV)
⚽ Press conference after Interior Minister Conference (#IMK) confirms:
- No personalised tickets
- No AI/facial recognition
- Compromise with DFL: more security & supporter liaison officers
Bremen IM Mäurer (SPD): "We've agreed to pursue dialogue, not confrontation."
📷 @chalednahar.bsky.social
- No personalised tickets
- No AI/facial recognition
- Compromise with DFL: more security & supporter liaison officers
Bremen IM Mäurer (SPD): "We've agreed to pursue dialogue, not confrontation."
📷 @chalednahar.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
⚽ Press conference after Interior Minister Conference (#IMK) confirms:
- No personalised tickets
- No AI/facial recognition
- Compromise with DFL: more security & supporter liaison officers
Bremen IM Mäurer (SPD): "We've agreed to pursue dialogue, not confrontation."
📷 @chalednahar.bsky.social
- No personalised tickets
- No AI/facial recognition
- Compromise with DFL: more security & supporter liaison officers
Bremen IM Mäurer (SPD): "We've agreed to pursue dialogue, not confrontation."
📷 @chalednahar.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Ford
🇩🇪 According to Sportschau - and as reported in this week's On The Terraces newsletter - ministers have confirmed ahead of the #IMK:
- no personalised tickets
- no facial recognition
- watered down stadium ban commission
- pyro debate postponed
Latest ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
- no personalised tickets
- no facial recognition
- watered down stadium ban commission
- pyro debate postponed
Latest ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Fan protests latest as IMK draws near
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
December 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
🇩🇪 According to Sportschau - and as reported in this week's On The Terraces newsletter - ministers have confirmed ahead of the #IMK:
- no personalised tickets
- no facial recognition
- watered down stadium ban commission
- pyro debate postponed
Latest ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
- no personalised tickets
- no facial recognition
- watered down stadium ban commission
- pyro debate postponed
Latest ⬇️
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...