Borussia Dortmund have publicly criticized what they describe as “disproportionate” police measures that affected some of their supporters planning to travel to Italy for a Champions League match against Atalanta on Wednesday.
In a brief statement, the German club said that certain Dortmund fans had been prevented from making the trip, attributing the situation to actions taken by Italian authorities. While the club did not provide detailed numbers or specific incidents, it emphasized that the measures in question went beyond what it considered reasonable for managing away support at a European fixture.
Dortmund indicated that they view the treatment of their traveling fans as excessive, particularly in the context of an organized Champions League away match in which clubs, local organizers, and authorities typically coordinate in advance on security and logistics. The club’s use of the term “disproportionate” suggests a belief that the intensity or scope of the police response was not in line with the behavior or risk posed by their supporters.
The club did not elaborate on the exact nature of the police actions, such as whether they involved checks at borders, restrictions at airports, controls on buses or trains, or other security measures commonly applied to traveling supporter groups. It also did not specify whether those affected had already reached Italy or were stopped en route from Germany or elsewhere.
Borussia Dortmund have a large and well-traveled fan base, and their away matches in European competitions routinely attract significant numbers of supporters. For fixtures such as this Champions League meeting with Atalanta, fans typically plan trips well in advance, arranging tickets, transport, and accommodation around the official away allocation provided by the host club.
In their comments, Dortmund focused on the impact on their own supporters, expressing dissatisfaction that some fans, despite intending to follow the team, were unable to do so because of the police measures. The club did not indicate whether it had lodged a formal complaint with Italian authorities, UEFA, or other bodies, nor did it outline any next steps it might take in response.
No detailed response from Italian police or local officials was referenced in Dortmund’s statement, and there was no immediate indication of whether the measures would affect additional supporters in the lead-up to the match. The game against Atalanta is scheduled to go ahead as planned, with Dortmund expecting a traveling contingent in the stands, albeit smaller than originally intended due to the reported restrictions.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions that can arise around major European fixtures when large groups of away fans travel internationally. While security services in host countries often adopt strict approaches to crowd management, visiting clubs and fans sometimes view such measures as overly harsh or unnecessarily restrictive. In this case, Borussia Dortmund have made clear their view that the balance was not appropriately struck, pointing to the experience of their supporters who were unable to complete the journey to Italy for Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.
