At the Saturday evening Bundesliga game between Bayer Leverkusen and 1.FC Köln, things remained unusually quiet in the stands. After intensive and naked checks, the 1.FC Cologne fan scene left again, the Leverkusen fan scene showed solidarity and also packed up. Fanhilfe Leverkusen has now published a statement on the current situation for away fans.
After 1.FC Cologne was promoted back to the 1st Bundesliga last season, the explosive game against Bayer Leverkusen in league play was on the agenda again after a long time. However, it became apparent early on before kick-off that things would remain quiet in the away area. After, according to the Cologne Fan Aid, there were naked checks at the entrance, the Cologne fan scene and other fans left the stadium around an hour before kick-off. “After nude checks took place, the active fan scene decided to leave the stadium closed.” This was said shortly afterwards by the Cologne Fan Aid.
The home fan scene around Ultras Leverkusen also decided not to attend the game as usual. So after their pyrotechnic intro, the Nordkurve packed up their fence flags and left their own stadium together.
The Leverkusen Fan Aid has now published a statement in which it says: “We are shocked at the direction in which Bayer 04 has developed. Seeing our own club at the top of Germany’s fan hostility shames us deeply and represents a situation that must be changed urgently and immediately.” Accordingly, Fanhilfe is calling for the facts to be examined and the current situation to be changed.
It wasn’t the first fan scene to leave or not even enter the stadium in Leverkusen this year. In addition to the 1.FC Köln fan scene, three other groups left the stadium in 2025, including the SV Werder Bremen groups. Fascination fan curve reported. as well as the Borussia Mönchengladbach fan scene.
In the past, the visiting fans of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg also had to contend with material bans such as the ban on waving flags.
The fascination of the fan curve is documented by the statement from Curve Help Leverkusen:
6:30 p.m., top game, floodlights, derby, actually guarantees an unforgettable football evening. Unfortunately, the evening turned out very differently.
About an hour before the game started, we received information about the departure of the guest group from Cologne. The reason for this was extremely extensive controls at entry into the BayArena – a phenomenon that we have been dealing with for some time and which we vehemently reject as an aid to cornering.
Unlike previous games, according to the information we received and the statement from the Cologne Fan Aid, the situation became so serious that there were naked checks. As a result, the decision was made to leave the stadium and not undergo these inhumane measures.
Our own fan scene then expressed solidarity with the followers from Cologne. This means that the development we have repeatedly warned about has occurred: a stadium without atmosphere, without fan culture and with a backdrop that is unworthy of a derby.
We are shocked at the direction in which Bayer 04 has developed. Seeing your own club at the top of Germany’s fan hostility shames us deeply and represents a situation that must be changed urgently and immediately. To help with the curve, we demand a complete clarification of the matter. Approaches like this are an affront to German football culture and must under no circumstances be condoned.
This statement also sends a clear signal to the club’s security officers, who in our view are the root of the problems of the last few months. Their repressive and destructive actions are largely responsible for the fact that the fourth fan scene in a year has left the stadium before kick-off.
Curve help Leverkusen
(Fascination Fan Curve, December 14, 2025)
