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 🇾🇪
Anyway, the FC ultras were escorted back to Köln where they went to support their club's under-21s in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West instead.
FT: 1. FC Köln II 1-1 Sportfreunde Lotte
FT: 1. FC Köln II 1-1 Sportfreunde Lotte
February 14, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Anyway, the FC ultras were escorted back to Köln where they went to support their club's under-21s in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West instead.
FT: 1. FC Köln II 1-1 Sportfreunde Lotte
FT: 1. FC Köln II 1-1 Sportfreunde Lotte
🇩🇪 #Bundesliga:
🇾🇪 SGE: First win since Dec, well-worked goals on Riera‘s home debut
🔴 FCB: Brilliant Karl step-over + Kane from distance
🔷 HSV: Came from behind, up to 9th(!), Königsdörffer back on target
🔵 TSG: Kramaric stunner ruled out for offside…
🏴☠️ FCSP: 2nd big defeat in Leverkusen this month
🇾🇪 SGE: First win since Dec, well-worked goals on Riera‘s home debut
🔴 FCB: Brilliant Karl step-over + Kane from distance
🔷 HSV: Came from behind, up to 9th(!), Königsdörffer back on target
🔵 TSG: Kramaric stunner ruled out for offside…
🏴☠️ FCSP: 2nd big defeat in Leverkusen this month
February 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
🇩🇪 #Bundesliga:
🇾🇪 SGE: First win since Dec, well-worked goals on Riera‘s home debut
🔴 FCB: Brilliant Karl step-over + Kane from distance
🔷 HSV: Came from behind, up to 9th(!), Königsdörffer back on target
🔵 TSG: Kramaric stunner ruled out for offside…
🏴☠️ FCSP: 2nd big defeat in Leverkusen this month
🇾🇪 SGE: First win since Dec, well-worked goals on Riera‘s home debut
🔴 FCB: Brilliant Karl step-over + Kane from distance
🔷 HSV: Came from behind, up to 9th(!), Königsdörffer back on target
🔵 TSG: Kramaric stunner ruled out for offside…
🏴☠️ FCSP: 2nd big defeat in Leverkusen this month
🇩🇪 And elsewhere in Germany this week:
🇲🇨 Köln protest against red bull
🟡 Dresden protest against ticket prices
🔵 Schalke protest against Tönnies
🔥 "Ich fand's geil": Steffen Baumgart on Union Berlin choreo
Another packed newsletter! ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇲🇨 Köln protest against red bull
🟡 Dresden protest against ticket prices
🔵 Schalke protest against Tönnies
🔥 "Ich fand's geil": Steffen Baumgart on Union Berlin choreo
Another packed newsletter! ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
February 11, 2026 at 1:01 PM
🇩🇪 And elsewhere in Germany this week:
🇲🇨 Köln protest against red bull
🟡 Dresden protest against ticket prices
🔵 Schalke protest against Tönnies
🔥 "Ich fand's geil": Steffen Baumgart on Union Berlin choreo
Another packed newsletter! ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🇲🇨 Köln protest against red bull
🟡 Dresden protest against ticket prices
🔵 Schalke protest against Tönnies
🔥 "Ich fand's geil": Steffen Baumgart on Union Berlin choreo
Another packed newsletter! ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🎪 Clue: it has to do (predictably) with Dietmar Hopp and the extent to which TSG Hoffenheim really are a normal, 50+1 compliant club again.
🎪 Welcome to the circus. Sit where you like.
Full story on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🎪 Welcome to the circus. Sit where you like.
Full story on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
February 11, 2026 at 1:01 PM
🎪 Clue: it has to do (predictably) with Dietmar Hopp and the extent to which TSG Hoffenheim really are a normal, 50+1 compliant club again.
🎪 Welcome to the circus. Sit where you like.
Full story on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🎪 Welcome to the circus. Sit where you like.
Full story on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
FT: Fürth 4-5 Magdeburg
In hindsight, actually not a surprising result at all given Fürth have now been involved in 5 of the ten most high-scoring 2. Bundesliga games this season, and FCM have been involved in 3 of them - including a 4-5 defeat to Fürth earlier in the campaign. Easy money, really.
In hindsight, actually not a surprising result at all given Fürth have now been involved in 5 of the ten most high-scoring 2. Bundesliga games this season, and FCM have been involved in 3 of them - including a 4-5 defeat to Fürth earlier in the campaign. Easy money, really.
February 7, 2026 at 10:38 AM
FT: Fürth 4-5 Magdeburg
In hindsight, actually not a surprising result at all given Fürth have now been involved in 5 of the ten most high-scoring 2. Bundesliga games this season, and FCM have been involved in 3 of them - including a 4-5 defeat to Fürth earlier in the campaign. Easy money, really.
In hindsight, actually not a surprising result at all given Fürth have now been involved in 5 of the ten most high-scoring 2. Bundesliga games this season, and FCM have been involved in 3 of them - including a 4-5 defeat to Fürth earlier in the campaign. Easy money, really.
HT: Union Berlin 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht dominating possession but cautious in their attacks. Exploded a couple of times down the right with Götze/Höjlund/Doan combining, but produced no shot on goal. GK Kaua‘s save from Kemlein the most spectacular moment so far - on the pitch at least.
Eintracht dominating possession but cautious in their attacks. Exploded a couple of times down the right with Götze/Höjlund/Doan combining, but produced no shot on goal. GK Kaua‘s save from Kemlein the most spectacular moment so far - on the pitch at least.
February 6, 2026 at 8:23 PM
HT: Union Berlin 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht dominating possession but cautious in their attacks. Exploded a couple of times down the right with Götze/Höjlund/Doan combining, but produced no shot on goal. GK Kaua‘s save from Kemlein the most spectacular moment so far - on the pitch at least.
Eintracht dominating possession but cautious in their attacks. Exploded a couple of times down the right with Götze/Höjlund/Doan combining, but produced no shot on goal. GK Kaua‘s save from Kemlein the most spectacular moment so far - on the pitch at least.
🌲 Die Alte Försterei im Winter. Ultras Frankfurt am Gästeeingang.
🦅 Albert Riera‘s first game in charge of Eintracht. The biggest club he’s been involved with in his career thus far.
#bundesliga
🦅 Albert Riera‘s first game in charge of Eintracht. The biggest club he’s been involved with in his career thus far.
#bundesliga
February 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
🌲 Die Alte Försterei im Winter. Ultras Frankfurt am Gästeeingang.
🦅 Albert Riera‘s first game in charge of Eintracht. The biggest club he’s been involved with in his career thus far.
#bundesliga
🦅 Albert Riera‘s first game in charge of Eintracht. The biggest club he’s been involved with in his career thus far.
#bundesliga
Normal scenes at half-time in the 2. Bundesliga relegation battle. Nothing to see here. Carry on.
February 6, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Normal scenes at half-time in the 2. Bundesliga relegation battle. Nothing to see here. Carry on.
🇲🇨 Did 1. FC Köln‘s under-19s lose because one of the 50,000 fans invaded the pitch? 😬
🇲🇨 Either way, impressions from a record-breaking night in Müngersdorf on the Gegenpressing podcast
w/ @manuelveth.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social
🎧 gegenpressing.substack.com/p/dfb-pokal-...
🇲🇨 Either way, impressions from a record-breaking night in Müngersdorf on the Gegenpressing podcast
w/ @manuelveth.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social
🎧 gegenpressing.substack.com/p/dfb-pokal-...
February 6, 2026 at 7:53 AM
🇲🇨 Did 1. FC Köln‘s under-19s lose because one of the 50,000 fans invaded the pitch? 😬
🇲🇨 Either way, impressions from a record-breaking night in Müngersdorf on the Gegenpressing podcast
w/ @manuelveth.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social
🎧 gegenpressing.substack.com/p/dfb-pokal-...
🇲🇨 Either way, impressions from a record-breaking night in Müngersdorf on the Gegenpressing podcast
w/ @manuelveth.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social
🎧 gegenpressing.substack.com/p/dfb-pokal-...
February 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Hamburger SV vs. 1. FC Köln scheduled as the Bundesliga's prime-time "Topspiel" on matchday 26 rather than Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich.
Although newly-promoted, HSV (140,000 members) & Köln (160,000) are the sixth & joint-fourth biggest football clubs in Germany, respectively.
#bundesliga
Although newly-promoted, HSV (140,000 members) & Köln (160,000) are the sixth & joint-fourth biggest football clubs in Germany, respectively.
#bundesliga
February 4, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Hamburger SV vs. 1. FC Köln scheduled as the Bundesliga's prime-time "Topspiel" on matchday 26 rather than Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich.
Although newly-promoted, HSV (140,000 members) & Köln (160,000) are the sixth & joint-fourth biggest football clubs in Germany, respectively.
#bundesliga
Although newly-promoted, HSV (140,000 members) & Köln (160,000) are the sixth & joint-fourth biggest football clubs in Germany, respectively.
#bundesliga
🏴☠️ FC St. Pauli away at Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup last night.
Full allocation (~3,000), plus more in the home end, for an 850km round trip on a Tuesday night. Solid support.
FT: Leverkusen 3-0 St. Pauli
#DFBPokal 🏆
Full allocation (~3,000), plus more in the home end, for an 850km round trip on a Tuesday night. Solid support.
FT: Leverkusen 3-0 St. Pauli
#DFBPokal 🏆
February 4, 2026 at 9:20 AM
🏴☠️ FC St. Pauli away at Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup last night.
Full allocation (~3,000), plus more in the home end, for an 850km round trip on a Tuesday night. Solid support.
FT: Leverkusen 3-0 St. Pauli
#DFBPokal 🏆
Full allocation (~3,000), plus more in the home end, for an 850km round trip on a Tuesday night. Solid support.
FT: Leverkusen 3-0 St. Pauli
#DFBPokal 🏆
HT: Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 St. Pauli
Leverkusen lead through Terrier‘s impressive volley - but it’s a game characterised by chaotic defending on both sides. St Pauli arguably the better side but (typically) haven’t finished their chances, the best of which fell to Kaars.
🏆 #dfbpokal
Leverkusen lead through Terrier‘s impressive volley - but it’s a game characterised by chaotic defending on both sides. St Pauli arguably the better side but (typically) haven’t finished their chances, the best of which fell to Kaars.
🏆 #dfbpokal
February 3, 2026 at 8:41 PM
HT: Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 St. Pauli
Leverkusen lead through Terrier‘s impressive volley - but it’s a game characterised by chaotic defending on both sides. St Pauli arguably the better side but (typically) haven’t finished their chances, the best of which fell to Kaars.
🏆 #dfbpokal
Leverkusen lead through Terrier‘s impressive volley - but it’s a game characterised by chaotic defending on both sides. St Pauli arguably the better side but (typically) haven’t finished their chances, the best of which fell to Kaars.
🏆 #dfbpokal
Borussia Dortmund could feasibly have lost 3-4 but hold on against bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim to close the gap on Bayern Munich to six points (was 11 at the start of January).
#bundesliga
#bundesliga
February 1, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Borussia Dortmund could feasibly have lost 3-4 but hold on against bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim to close the gap on Bayern Munich to six points (was 11 at the start of January).
#bundesliga
#bundesliga
🇩🇪 2. Bundesliga: Despite a deserved defeat in the "Kleines Revierderby" away at Bochum, Schalke somehow cling on to top spot after both Darmstadt & Paderborn fail to capitalise.
But Elversberg (lost in promotion play-off last season) go second after winning away at neighbours Kaiserslautern.
But Elversberg (lost in promotion play-off last season) go second after winning away at neighbours Kaiserslautern.
February 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
🇩🇪 2. Bundesliga: Despite a deserved defeat in the "Kleines Revierderby" away at Bochum, Schalke somehow cling on to top spot after both Darmstadt & Paderborn fail to capitalise.
But Elversberg (lost in promotion play-off last season) go second after winning away at neighbours Kaiserslautern.
But Elversberg (lost in promotion play-off last season) go second after winning away at neighbours Kaiserslautern.
Hamburger SV 2-2 FC Bayern München
"Alles riskieren!" as the HSV chant goes - and that’s exactly what they did, matching Bayern for long spells, outrunning them, attacking whenever they could, led at both ends by the outstanding Luka Vuskovic. HSV‘s biggest & best #Bundesliga display of the season.
"Alles riskieren!" as the HSV chant goes - and that’s exactly what they did, matching Bayern for long spells, outrunning them, attacking whenever they could, led at both ends by the outstanding Luka Vuskovic. HSV‘s biggest & best #Bundesliga display of the season.
January 31, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Hamburger SV 2-2 FC Bayern München
"Alles riskieren!" as the HSV chant goes - and that’s exactly what they did, matching Bayern for long spells, outrunning them, attacking whenever they could, led at both ends by the outstanding Luka Vuskovic. HSV‘s biggest & best #Bundesliga display of the season.
"Alles riskieren!" as the HSV chant goes - and that’s exactly what they did, matching Bayern for long spells, outrunning them, attacking whenever they could, led at both ends by the outstanding Luka Vuskovic. HSV‘s biggest & best #Bundesliga display of the season.
1. FC Köln 1-0 VfL Wolfsburg
FC have goalkeeper Marwin Schwäbe to thank as they hold on for three points which, for a long time, looked safe against an extremely poor Wolfsburg side. But they didn't build on Maina's first-half goal and invited unnecessary, late pressure.
#bundesliga
FC have goalkeeper Marwin Schwäbe to thank as they hold on for three points which, for a long time, looked safe against an extremely poor Wolfsburg side. But they didn't build on Maina's first-half goal and invited unnecessary, late pressure.
#bundesliga
January 30, 2026 at 9:26 PM
1. FC Köln 1-0 VfL Wolfsburg
FC have goalkeeper Marwin Schwäbe to thank as they hold on for three points which, for a long time, looked safe against an extremely poor Wolfsburg side. But they didn't build on Maina's first-half goal and invited unnecessary, late pressure.
#bundesliga
FC have goalkeeper Marwin Schwäbe to thank as they hold on for three points which, for a long time, looked safe against an extremely poor Wolfsburg side. But they didn't build on Maina's first-half goal and invited unnecessary, late pressure.
#bundesliga
"United against UEFA – No to collective punishments!"
Joint statement from Stuttgart's Cannstatter Kurve and Young Boys' Ostkurve Bern.
Joint statement from Stuttgart's Cannstatter Kurve and Young Boys' Ostkurve Bern.
January 30, 2026 at 12:05 PM
"United against UEFA – No to collective punishments!"
Joint statement from Stuttgart's Cannstatter Kurve and Young Boys' Ostkurve Bern.
Joint statement from Stuttgart's Cannstatter Kurve and Young Boys' Ostkurve Bern.
VfB Stuttgart at home to Young Boys in the Europa League this evening - and ultras from the Ostkurve Bern in an improvised away end at the Neckarstadion after circumventing a UEFA ban with help from their Stuttgart counterparts.
January 29, 2026 at 8:41 PM
VfB Stuttgart at home to Young Boys in the Europa League this evening - and ultras from the Ostkurve Bern in an improvised away end at the Neckarstadion after circumventing a UEFA ban with help from their Stuttgart counterparts.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 12:50 PM
"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
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
"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
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
🦅 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
🇦🇿 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
🦅 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
🇦🇿 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
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 🐐
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
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 🐐
The previous record for a Youth League fixture was 40,368 for Tabzonspor vs. Inter in April 2025.
#effzeh 🐐