Karlsruhe, Germany - Football clubs can speak out stadium bans even if the person in question is only suspected of having taken part in violent acts, the German Federal Supreme Court of Justice ruled on Friday. The Court said that stadium bans are covered by the club's right to deny suspects entry into a stadium.
A Bayern Munich fan had appealed to the court after being handed a Germany-wide stadium ban for two years. The man was part of a fan club which was engaged in clashes with MSV Duisburg fans in 2006. He protested his innocence and criminal investigations were terminated.
The German football federation DFB welcomed the ruling, with its security head Helmut Spahn saying that it "protects peaceful fans from those who are ready to use force.
"Stadium bans are an important prevention method to ensure security inside the stadiums," said Spahn.
