As a fan lawyer, I am primarily a criminal defense lawyer who advocates and supports fans in tricky situations. I ensure that my clients have the rights to which they are entitled under the Code of Criminal Procedure. It is always about preventing harm to my clients. Disproportionate or illegal investigation methods call me to the scene. A thorough study of files and, of course, numerous discussions with clients are essential to my work as a lawyer.
If the client is a football fan, things sometimes get complicated. Criminal procedural matters do not necessarily play the main role here. SKBs, so-called scene-savvy officials, are often the ones in charge. Personal animosities are also relevant. The fan may think: SKBs are well informed and well connected. After all, all they do all day long is deal with fans. Home inspections have become very popular in recent years. So-called public searches against football supporters are also fashionable.
All too often, fans are pilloried, the tabloid media takes bold action, and the matter ends up in large format in the daily newspapers. This leads to the stigmatization of the fan at a point in the process when the presumption of innocence should apply. Disadvantages at work or in private life can hardly be avoided, especially for young fans. Mind you: This is not about organized crime, but about football and its fans – most recently fans from Cologne, Braunschweig, Magdeburg, Munich and Wolfsburg. But basically it’s about comprehensive investigative measures with great impact. That’s not necessary.
“Sport free!” from the fan advocate.
