Riots on Saturday evening
64 police officers injured in second division game in Magdeburg
Updated on January 25, 2026 – 2:13 p.mReading time: 2 min.
On Saturday evening, Magdeburg and Dresden fought a thrilling second division duel. There were riots on the sidelines of the game.
At least 64 police officers were injured in riots around the second division game between 1. FC Magdeburg and Dynamo Dresden. The Interior Ministry in Magdeburg said the police were shot at with pyrotechnics, pelted with barriers and stones and attacked with a manhole cover and sidewalk slabs.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) condemned the riots. “Beating police officers with a manhole cover and paving slabs is nothing other than brutal violence,” she explained. “I wish the injured colleagues a speedy recovery.”
On Sunday morning, the MDR had already reported on the riots and, citing the Magdeburg police station, spoke of a “low single-digit number” of seriously injured police officers.
According to the police, FCM fans tried to advance towards the visitors’ block. On Saturday, several hundred officers from various federal states and federal police were on duty in Magdeburg.
The Interior Ministry in Magdeburg said that of the at least 64 state police officers who suffered minor or serious injuries, some were treated as outpatients in hospitals. “As things stand, forces from other state police or the federal police were not injured.”
The duel between the two traditional clubs took place on Saturday evening as part of the 19th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga. Dresden won 2-1 in Magdeburg.
Kick-off was delayed due to the use of pyrotechnics in the home block. Shortly after the start of the second half, referee Max Burda had to interrupt the game for nine minutes after pyrotechnics were set off in the visitors’ block. There was thick smoke inside the stadium, which severely limited visibility.
According to the police, other crimes such as extortion and damage to property occurred in the Magdeburg city area. The investigation into all matters is ongoing, it said.
The police union in Saxony-Anhalt condemned the riots. “Football should bring people together – not put emergency services, fans or bystanders in danger,” it said in a statement. “Anyone who sets off pyrotechnics in crowded blocks, throws rockets and firecrackers into crowds or attacks police forces has forfeited any right to call themselves a fan. Here we are talking about criminals.” Statements from the two clubs and the fan aid organizations there are still pending.
