German Police Union Pushes for Facial Recognition at Soccer Games

Published Date : 8/25/2025 

As the German Bundesliga season begins, the police union calls for the implementation of facial recognition technology to enhance stadium security, sparking debate over surveillance and fan rights. 

As the German Bundesliga football competition kicked off last Friday, the German police trade union called for increased use of modern security technology, including live facial recognition software and body scans.

The Trade Union of the Police (Gewerkschaft der Polizei – GdP) is facing a massive increase in working hours during the upcoming matches, according to GdP Federal Chairman Jochen Kopelke. The union leader called on those responsible to immediately increase investments in security personnel and infrastructure in order to better support the police.

“The associations and clubs should clearly identify those who endanger the safety of the stadium experience and remove these individuals from the stands,” says Kopelke. “Football does not need hate chants, pyrotechnics, or violence.”

Germany has been struggling with football fan violence. Last year, clashes between supporters of FC Carl Zeiss Jena and BSG Chemie Leipzig left 79 people injured, including 10 police officers.

Not everyone, however, is supportive of introducing new surveillance tools to football stadiums.

“If the conditions that the GdP repeatedly cites and uses to justify such measures actually existed, no one would bring their family to a game,” says Linda Röttig, a lawyer at Fanhilfe, an organization that helps football fans in trouble with the law.

Football fans have fundamental rights, which prohibit the “total surveillance fantasies such as George Orwell’s 1984,” the fan representative told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND).

Facial recognition systems are becoming a common fixture across European stadiums. Among the latest to announce the introduction of the technology is FC Copenhagen, which received a green light from the Danish Data Protection Agency in May.

The debate over the use of facial recognition technology in stadiums highlights the tension between enhancing security and protecting individual privacy. While the police union emphasizes the need for modern security measures to prevent violence and ensure safety, fan rights organizations and privacy advocates argue that such measures could infringe on the fundamental rights of spectators. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: Why is the German police union calling for facial recognition technology?

A: The German police union (GdP) is calling for facial recognition technology to enhance security and prevent violence at Bundesliga matches, as they face increased working hours and security challenges during the season.

Q: What concerns do fan rights organizations have about facial recognition?

A: Fan rights organizations, such as Fanhilfe, are concerned that facial recognition technology could infringe on the privacy and fundamental rights of football fans, creating a surveillance environment similar to George Orwell's 1984.

Q: What is the current state of football fan violence in Germany?

A: Germany has been dealing with significant football fan violence, including a clash between supporters of FC Carl Zeiss Jena and BSG Chemie Leipzig last year, which resulted in 79 injuries, including 10 police officers.

Q: Are there examples of facial recognition being used in other European stadiums?

A: Yes, facial recognition technology is becoming more common in European stadiums. For example, FC Copenhagen recently received approval from the Danish Data Protection Agency to use facial recognition at their matches.

Q: What are the potential benefits of facial recognition in stadiums?

A: The potential benefits of facial recognition in stadiums include enhanced security, the ability to identify and remove individuals who pose a threat, and the prevention of violence and disruptive behavior, ultimately ensuring a safer environment for all spectators. 

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