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 🇾🇪
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 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 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
Fan demands:
1. Minimise police deployments
2. No preventative stadium bans
3. Reduce surveillance costs
4. Recognise the value of German fan culture
1. Minimise police deployments
2. No preventative stadium bans
3. Reduce surveillance costs
4. Recognise the value of German fan culture
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Fan demands:
1. Minimise police deployments
2. No preventative stadium bans
3. Reduce surveillance costs
4. Recognise the value of German fan culture
1. Minimise police deployments
2. No preventative stadium bans
3. Reduce surveillance costs
4. Recognise the value of German fan culture
Fans on: pyrotechnics
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Fans on: pyrotechnics
Fans on: personalised tickets and facial recognition
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Fans on: personalised tickets and facial recognition
"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).
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...
🇩🇪 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...
"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
🎾 "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
"Rome’s heritage remains; Cologne will never fall!"
But the Empire did fall, and so did Köln - initially lacking the favour of the Gods on an offside goal, but then to an unstoppable Bavarian horde and their English chieftain.
Report on Köln 1-4 Bayern ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bayern-top...
But the Empire did fall, and so did Köln - initially lacking the favour of the Gods on an offside goal, but then to an unstoppable Bavarian horde and their English chieftain.
Report on Köln 1-4 Bayern ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bayern-top...
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
"Rome’s heritage remains; Cologne will never fall!"
But the Empire did fall, and so did Köln - initially lacking the favour of the Gods on an offside goal, but then to an unstoppable Bavarian horde and their English chieftain.
Report on Köln 1-4 Bayern ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bayern-top...
But the Empire did fall, and so did Köln - initially lacking the favour of the Gods on an offside goal, but then to an unstoppable Bavarian horde and their English chieftain.
Report on Köln 1-4 Bayern ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bayern-top...
HT: Köln 1-2 Bayern
FC have every right to feel hard done by here. They’ve been by far the better team, fully deserved their lead, place rocking - and then Diaz equalises when clearly offside. No VAR in 2nd round, but shouldn’t be necessary. (Kane’s goal to make it 2-1 was pure class.)
#dfbpokal
FC have every right to feel hard done by here. They’ve been by far the better team, fully deserved their lead, place rocking - and then Diaz equalises when clearly offside. No VAR in 2nd round, but shouldn’t be necessary. (Kane’s goal to make it 2-1 was pure class.)
#dfbpokal
October 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
HT: Köln 1-2 Bayern
FC have every right to feel hard done by here. They’ve been by far the better team, fully deserved their lead, place rocking - and then Diaz equalises when clearly offside. No VAR in 2nd round, but shouldn’t be necessary. (Kane’s goal to make it 2-1 was pure class.)
#dfbpokal
FC have every right to feel hard done by here. They’ve been by far the better team, fully deserved their lead, place rocking - and then Diaz equalises when clearly offside. No VAR in 2nd round, but shouldn’t be necessary. (Kane’s goal to make it 2-1 was pure class.)
#dfbpokal
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 1. FC Köln
A serious injury left Köln to face seven minutes of added time with ten men. Maxi Beier’s 96th-min winner sparked bedlam on the Südtribüne but left FC coach Kwasniok lamenting a "double defeat."
Report from Dortmund ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/maximilian...
A serious injury left Köln to face seven minutes of added time with ten men. Maxi Beier’s 96th-min winner sparked bedlam on the Südtribüne but left FC coach Kwasniok lamenting a "double defeat."
Report from Dortmund ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/maximilian...
October 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 1. FC Köln
A serious injury left Köln to face seven minutes of added time with ten men. Maxi Beier’s 96th-min winner sparked bedlam on the Südtribüne but left FC coach Kwasniok lamenting a "double defeat."
Report from Dortmund ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/maximilian...
A serious injury left Köln to face seven minutes of added time with ten men. Maxi Beier’s 96th-min winner sparked bedlam on the Südtribüne but left FC coach Kwasniok lamenting a "double defeat."
Report from Dortmund ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/maximilian...
HT: Dortmund 0-0 Köln
BVB dominating possession but only one clear chance when Adeyemi cut inside, saved by Schwäbe.
Otherwise, FC have had the better chances, predictably through El Mala, who is causing Anton & BVB defence all sorts of problems on the break and should have scored.
#bundesliga
BVB dominating possession but only one clear chance when Adeyemi cut inside, saved by Schwäbe.
Otherwise, FC have had the better chances, predictably through El Mala, who is causing Anton & BVB defence all sorts of problems on the break and should have scored.
#bundesliga
October 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
HT: Dortmund 0-0 Köln
BVB dominating possession but only one clear chance when Adeyemi cut inside, saved by Schwäbe.
Otherwise, FC have had the better chances, predictably through El Mala, who is causing Anton & BVB defence all sorts of problems on the break and should have scored.
#bundesliga
BVB dominating possession but only one clear chance when Adeyemi cut inside, saved by Schwäbe.
Otherwise, FC have had the better chances, predictably through El Mala, who is causing Anton & BVB defence all sorts of problems on the break and should have scored.
#bundesliga
🇩🇪 Guten Tag aus Dortmund!
⚽️ Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln
🗞️ Praise in the BVB ultras’ fanzine for a certain English striker who scored against their team last week (and whose name they’ve Germanised 😅):
🏴 "Harald showed as a 6, an 8, a 9 and a 10 that he’s earnt the label of 'world class.'"
⚽️ Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln
🗞️ Praise in the BVB ultras’ fanzine for a certain English striker who scored against their team last week (and whose name they’ve Germanised 😅):
🏴 "Harald showed as a 6, an 8, a 9 and a 10 that he’s earnt the label of 'world class.'"
October 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
🇩🇪 Guten Tag aus Dortmund!
⚽️ Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln
🗞️ Praise in the BVB ultras’ fanzine for a certain English striker who scored against their team last week (and whose name they’ve Germanised 😅):
🏴 "Harald showed as a 6, an 8, a 9 and a 10 that he’s earnt the label of 'world class.'"
⚽️ Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln
🗞️ Praise in the BVB ultras’ fanzine for a certain English striker who scored against their team last week (and whose name they’ve Germanised 😅):
🏴 "Harald showed as a 6, an 8, a 9 and a 10 that he’s earnt the label of 'world class.'"
"The real perpetrator is sat at the police station, not stood on the terrace."
Ultras Frankfurt today after over 200 St. Pauli supporters were banned from attending their club’s game at the Waldstadion. Earlier, St Pauli fans had clashed with Wolfsburg fans in Hannover en route to Frankfurt.
Ultras Frankfurt today after over 200 St. Pauli supporters were banned from attending their club’s game at the Waldstadion. Earlier, St Pauli fans had clashed with Wolfsburg fans in Hannover en route to Frankfurt.
October 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"The real perpetrator is sat at the police station, not stood on the terrace."
Ultras Frankfurt today after over 200 St. Pauli supporters were banned from attending their club’s game at the Waldstadion. Earlier, St Pauli fans had clashed with Wolfsburg fans in Hannover en route to Frankfurt.
Ultras Frankfurt today after over 200 St. Pauli supporters were banned from attending their club’s game at the Waldstadion. Earlier, St Pauli fans had clashed with Wolfsburg fans in Hannover en route to Frankfurt.
🇾🇪 New United We Stand out vs. Brighton tomorrow.
🇾🇪 Includes United (We Stand)‘s latest European away trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina … Having to do it ourselves these days … 😎
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester: www.uwsonline.com
🇾🇪 Includes United (We Stand)‘s latest European away trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina … Having to do it ourselves these days … 😎
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester: www.uwsonline.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
🇾🇪 New United We Stand out vs. Brighton tomorrow.
🇾🇪 Includes United (We Stand)‘s latest European away trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina … Having to do it ourselves these days … 😎
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester: www.uwsonline.com
🇾🇪 Includes United (We Stand)‘s latest European away trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina … Having to do it ourselves these days … 😎
🇾🇪 Buy the fanzines and support an independent fan culture in Manchester: www.uwsonline.com
FC Bayern ultras this evening:
"Against abuse of power and physical & psychological violence in relationships"
Background below.
📷 @pep379.bsky.social
"Against abuse of power and physical & psychological violence in relationships"
Background below.
📷 @pep379.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
FC Bayern ultras this evening:
"Against abuse of power and physical & psychological violence in relationships"
Background below.
📷 @pep379.bsky.social
"Against abuse of power and physical & psychological violence in relationships"
Background below.
📷 @pep379.bsky.social
🇲🇨 Over 1,200 1. FC Köln supporters in Luxembourg this evening, supporting their club‘s under-19s in the UEFA Youth League. Because what else are you going to do on a Wednesday night?
FT: RFC Union Lëtzebuerg 0-3 1. FC Köln
📷 senfkutte
FT: RFC Union Lëtzebuerg 0-3 1. FC Köln
📷 senfkutte
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
🇲🇨 Over 1,200 1. FC Köln supporters in Luxembourg this evening, supporting their club‘s under-19s in the UEFA Youth League. Because what else are you going to do on a Wednesday night?
FT: RFC Union Lëtzebuerg 0-3 1. FC Köln
📷 senfkutte
FT: RFC Union Lëtzebuerg 0-3 1. FC Köln
📷 senfkutte
Borussia Dortmund away at FC København last night - minus ultras, who boycotted due to personalised tickets. Those fans who did travel hung their banners upside down in solidarity.
Readers of my On The Terraces newsletter already knew the full story 😉
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Readers of my On The Terraces newsletter already knew the full story 😉
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
October 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Borussia Dortmund away at FC København last night - minus ultras, who boycotted due to personalised tickets. Those fans who did travel hung their banners upside down in solidarity.
Readers of my On The Terraces newsletter already knew the full story 😉
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
Readers of my On The Terraces newsletter already knew the full story 😉
➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
"Those who give the perpetrator a place also carry his guilt - no place for Boateng!"
The Südkurve München on reported plans for former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng to do a coaching internship at the club. A Munich court found Boateng guilty of domestic violence in 2024.
The Südkurve München on reported plans for former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng to do a coaching internship at the club. A Munich court found Boateng guilty of domestic violence in 2024.
October 18, 2025 at 5:40 PM
"Those who give the perpetrator a place also carry his guilt - no place for Boateng!"
The Südkurve München on reported plans for former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng to do a coaching internship at the club. A Munich court found Boateng guilty of domestic violence in 2024.
The Südkurve München on reported plans for former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng to do a coaching internship at the club. A Munich court found Boateng guilty of domestic violence in 2024.