Matt Ford
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matt4d.bsky.social
Matt Ford
@matt4d.bsky.social
Freelance journalist based in Germany | German & European football, sports politics & fan culture | The Guardian, The New European, London Evening Standard, BBC Sport, DW Sports, 11Freunde, SoFoot, etc | United We Stand 🇾🇪
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🟡 Hans-Joachim Watzke is stepping down after 20 years as Borussia Dortmund CEO

🟡 He insists he's leaving the club "stronger than ever" financially - but is frustrated by the team's current #Bundesliga struggles

🟡 Exclusive interview for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Twenty years of Borussia Dortmund: Watzke on near-bankruptcy, selling players and Klopp
In an exclusive interview the Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke discusses his two decades at the club, saying it has given him more than he was able to give back
www.theguardian.com
Update: 1. FC Köln have confirmed that the U19 UEFA Youth League game vs. Inter Milan next week is a 50,000 sell-out.

#effzeh 🐐
As of this morning, 1. FC Köln have sold over 41,000 tickets for their U19's UEFA Youth League game against Inter Milan on Wednesday, 4th Feb (kick-off: 6pm) - a new record.

The previous record for a Youth League fixture was 40,368 for Tabzonspor vs. Inter in April 2025.

#effzeh 🐐
January 29, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Benfica. Mourinho. Goalkeeper. Football. Brilliant.
January 28, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Matt Ford
On the terraces in Germany this week:

⚓ "Wat mutt, dat mutt!": Hamburg Derby
🔵 "Berlin bleibt hart!": Solidarity with Hertha fans
🔥 Happy birthday, Union Berlin!
🟡 "Elb-Clasico": Magdeburg vs. Dresden

Full stories on the Gegenpressing newsletter:

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Hamburg derby, Hertha solidarity & 'Elb-Clasico'
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Matt Ford
Die Ausschreitungen rund um das Magdeburg-Dresden-Spiel sind definitiv zu verurteilen (& sollten vom Vorfall am Olympiastadion klar unterschieden werden - ganz andere Gemengelage).

Aber: Dass die Polizei Sachsen KI-generierte Bilder zur Stimmungsmache nutzt, ist unfassbar. Wir reden hier im Staat.
January 28, 2026 at 12:44 PM
On the terraces in Germany this week:

⚓ "Wat mutt, dat mutt!": Hamburg Derby
🔵 "Berlin bleibt hart!": Solidarity with Hertha fans
🔥 Happy birthday, Union Berlin!
🟡 "Elb-Clasico": Magdeburg vs. Dresden

Full stories on the Gegenpressing newsletter:

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Hamburg derby, Hertha solidarity & 'Elb-Clasico'
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Free to read: the Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin!

🟡 BVB's "grown-up" football
🔴 Union's attacking limitations
🔷 Vusković centre-stage in Hamburg derby
🔴 Maza filling Wirtz-shaped hole in Leverkusen
🦅 Silence in Frankfurt
🔵 Džeko's dream debut for Schalke

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...
Monday Bulletin: Dortmund's grown up football, Union's limitations, Vusković stands out, Maza shines and Džeko writes history
Hello and welcome to the third edition of the newly revived Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin. This newsletter hopes to provide a vital source of information for any serious Bundesliga fan, as we round up...
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:07 PM
FT: Union Berlin 0-3 Borussia Dortmund

Schlotterbeck doubles the lead with a powerful header from a corner before Beier finishes off a neat move with a low drive to make it three and ensure BVB don’t regret Guirassy‘s misses. Captain Can subbed after getting into spats with Union players & ultras.
January 24, 2026 at 7:26 PM
HT: Union Berlin 0-1 Borussia Dortmund

After Bayern lost earlier, BVB lead through Can‘s penalty after Ronnow brought down Guirassy. It should have been 2-0 after Nmecha robbed Querfeld but BVB conspired to waste the chance. Union’s best chances have been free headers from dead balls. #bundesliga
January 24, 2026 at 6:19 PM
FC St. Pauli 0-0 Hamburger SV

War kalt 🥶

#bundesliga
January 24, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Matt Ford
On the terraces this week:

👮 Hertha-Schalke: Accusations of police violence
🔵 HSV ultras take stance on Kuntz allegations
🔴 Bayern fans protest/boycott RB
🏟️ Choreo of the week: Werder Bremen, Hansa Rostock or Union Berlin?

Full stories on Gegenpressing:

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Hertha-Schalke marred by clashes with police, HSV ultras take stance on abuse
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:49 AM
"We are always here - we are the terrace"

With the Südkurve closed due to pyro, FC Bayern's active fan scene has relocated to the upper tier. In a statement, the ultras say they have "proven that collective punishments are ineffective and ... can be rendered absurd at any time." #UCL
January 21, 2026 at 8:22 PM
FT: Qarabag 3-2 Frankfurt

The joint-leakiest defence in the Bundesliga is now the joint-leakiest in the #UCL as Eintracht crash out.

Started emphatically vs. Galatasaray (5-1) but shipped goals vs:
Liverpool (1-5)
Atletico (1-5)
Atalanta (0-3)
Qarabag (2-3)
🦅 Ultras Frankfurt in the home end away at Qarabag this evening despite UEFA ban on away supporters.

🇦🇿 According to local Frankfurt broadcaster Hessenschau, between 500-1,000 Eintracht supporters have travelled to Azerbaijan. Eintracht themselves have distributed only their 200 VIP tickets.

#UCL
January 21, 2026 at 7:49 PM
🦅 Ultras Frankfurt in the home end away at Qarabag this evening despite UEFA ban on away supporters.

🇦🇿 According to local Frankfurt broadcaster Hessenschau, between 500-1,000 Eintracht supporters have travelled to Azerbaijan. Eintracht themselves have distributed only their 200 VIP tickets.

#UCL
January 21, 2026 at 7:13 PM
As of this morning, 1. FC Köln have sold over 41,000 tickets for their U19's UEFA Youth League game against Inter Milan on Wednesday, 4th Feb (kick-off: 6pm) - a new record.

The previous record for a Youth League fixture was 40,368 for Tabzonspor vs. Inter in April 2025.

#effzeh 🐐
January 21, 2026 at 11:57 AM
On the terraces this week:

👮 Hertha-Schalke: Accusations of police violence
🔵 HSV ultras take stance on Kuntz allegations
🔴 Bayern fans protest/boycott RB
🏟️ Choreo of the week: Werder Bremen, Hansa Rostock or Union Berlin?

Full stories on Gegenpressing:

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Hertha-Schalke marred by clashes with police, HSV ultras take stance on abuse
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:49 AM
For two former players (Hummels & Kramer), Svensson:
- Plays the ball first
- Not a strong, fast or dangerous challenge
- No harm or intention to harm
= Not a red card

But according to the current rulebook:
- raised studs visible on super slo-mo and stills
= must be red

Absolutely absurd. #BVB
Absurd decision. #BVB
January 20, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Absurd decision. #BVB
January 20, 2026 at 8:29 PM
🎟️ Borussia Dortmund away at Tottenham Hotspur this evening. #UCL
January 20, 2026 at 8:03 PM
As of 2026, the Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin is free to read for everyone! This week:

⚫ Frankfurt sack Toppmöller
🏴‍☠️ St Pauli's Ricky-Jade Jones: hero to zero
🔴 Bayern want Diomande
🔵 Hoffenheim heading for record points tally
🔴 RB's dramatic collapse

gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...
Monday Bulletin: St. Pauli hero to zero, Diomande to Bayern, Hoffenheim record, Frankfurt fire Toppmöller and more!
Hello and welcome to the second edition of the newly revived Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin. This newsletter hopes to provide a vital source of information for any serious Bundesliga fan, as we round u...
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:33 AM
🇸🇳 Congratulations to Senegal - and in particular to this lad who came to take random videos at the quarter-final vs. Mali in Tangier. Hope he’s having a good night. #afcon
January 18, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Absolutely outstanding scenes 🇲🇦
January 18, 2026 at 9:20 PM
More accusations of police violence against football supporters in Berlin on Saturday night. Over 50 reported injured ahead of Hertha 0-0 Schalke. "Unique in its extent and brutality," Hertha legal aid group tells 11Freunde magazine.

Full story to come on Gegenpressing this week.

#bundesliga
January 18, 2026 at 6:07 PM
FC St. Pauli "Sonderzug" (Football Special) about to leave Dortmund Hbf, carrying some of the ~8,000 travelling supporters back to Hamburg.

Really good away support today, especially in the second half, dragged their team back into the game before BVB‘s late winner.

#bundesliga
January 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM
FT: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 FC St. Pauli

How on earth have BVB got away with that? Emre Can's injury-time penalty makes it 3-2 after they'd thrown away a two-goal lead against relegation strugglers St. Pauli, conceding two set-piece goals (Sands from corner, Jones from free-kick) in ten mins. Mad.
HT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 FC St. Pauli

Brandt taps home Adeyemi‘s cross in injury time at the end of an otherwise pedestrian first half from BVB. Brandt also had a shot cleared off the line and sent a free-kick just wide, whereas Adeyemi cut a frustrated figure prior to his assist.

#bundesliga
January 17, 2026 at 4:28 PM
HT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 FC St. Pauli

Brandt taps home Adeyemi‘s cross in injury time at the end of an otherwise pedestrian first half from BVB. Brandt also had a shot cleared off the line and sent a free-kick just wide, whereas Adeyemi cut a frustrated figure prior to his assist.

#bundesliga
January 17, 2026 at 3:20 PM