125,600 euros fine for FC St. Pauli after a pyrotechnic attack at the derby

125,600 euros fine for FC St. Pauli after a pyrotechnic attack at the derby

FC St. Pauli received a hefty penalty from the DFB after the derby against Hamburger SV on August 29, 2025. The club has to fork out €125,600 after supporters set off a number of pyrotechnic items during the game. This reports NDR.

“The sports court of the German Football Association has decided that fans’ unsportsmanlike behavior must be punished,” explains the DFB statement. A total of 122 pyrotechnic objects were fired at the derby, including 42 Bengal fires, 80 indicators and even a rocket. The latter ensured that the kick-off for the second half was delayed, which made the penalty even more expensive because it resulted in a 20 percent surcharge.

Own security measures supported

What is positive for the club is that it can use up to 41,000 euros of the fine for security or violence prevention measures. However, it is crucial that proof of this use is provided by June 30, 2026, otherwise the entire amount will remain with the association's coffers. Loud DFB Part of the fine also goes to football-related foundations that are in line with the statutory purposes of the DFB.

This is not the first incident of this kind for FC St. Pauli. In 2024, the club had already received a fine of 104,250 euros for similar incidents from a derby in 2023. It turns out that organizational problems surrounding pyrotechnics are by no means new and the security situation must be constantly monitored.

A controversial topic

The debate about pyrotechnics in football remains a hot topic. Many fans see them as part of football culture and demand acceptance under certain safety conditions. Initiatives such as the pilot project in Norway, where burning is permitted under strict safety precautions, could be a way to deal with this issue. These developments are being closely monitored by experts Sports show reports that so far over seven million euros in fines have been imposed for pyrotechnics.

The DFB has been criticized because penalties have doubled since the 2018/2019 season and the use of Bengalos continues unabated. Sociologist Stephanie Moldenhauer and other experts question the effectiveness of the punishments and speak of a rethink that is necessary to address the problems surrounding pyrotechnics. Reports of high penalties and their impact on clubs, especially in lower leagues, are making the rounds. The table updated:

The second leg between FC St. Pauli and HSV will take place on January 23, 2026 at the Millerntor Stadium. We will be curious to see whether the situation surrounding pyrotechnics will improve by then or whether we will experience similar incidents to the last encounter.