FC Hansa Rostock has launched a severe disciplinary response after an investigative report revealed that members of a Rostock Hooligan group posed with a swastika flag during a July trip to England. The 3. Liga club condemned the incident on September 4, 2026, confirming that it has alerted police, the state interior ministry, and the German Football Association (DFB) while threatening immediate stadium bans and club expulsions.
The Investigation and the Watford Incident
The controversy emerged following a detailed report published by the investigative platform “EXIF”. According to the findings detailed in the report, several Rostock hooligans traveled to England in late July to celebrate the club’s 60th anniversary alongside thousands of supporters who otherwise made the trip a peaceful celebration at Watford FC. While in England, the suspected brawlers allegedly clashed with supporters of the Glasgow Rangers and Olympique Lyon.
More damagingly, the EXIF dossier featured photographic evidence showing the individuals posing directly in front of a Nazi swastika flag. While thousands of FCH fans left a positive impression during the anniversary trip, the actions of this faction have thrust the club into an acute disciplinary crisis.
Club Response and Institutional Action
FC Hansa Rostock issued a sharp public denunciation of the behavior captured in the report. “Right-wing extremism, national socialist symbolism, and misanthropic ideology have no place at F.C. Hansa Rostock,” the club stated in its official release. Officials emphasized that they will not allow individuals with such conduct to damage the reputation of the club and its broader fan base.
The club acknowledged that some of the individuals identified in the photographs are partially known within the wider club environment. In its statement, Hansa management called it particularly distressing that certain figures appearing in the report had previously attended club-sanctioned events, including a team-sponsored children’s festival.
Imminent Bans and Expulsions
In response to the findings, Hansa Rostock leadership initiated formal communication channels with external authorities. The club confirmed it has notified local police, the regional interior ministry, and the DFB regarding the breach.
The club has stated that it will draw necessary consequences based on a comprehensive review of the material. The measures explicitly include issuing permanent stadium bans against identified culprits and pursuing formal expulsions for any individuals who hold active club memberships.
