DORTMUND, Germany (AP) Borussia Dortmund has accepted a sanction for trouble caused by some of its fans and will keep its 24,454-capacity south stand empty for its next Bundesliga game at home.
The club says its agreement to also pay a 100,000 euro ($106,000) fine is “based on our conviction that it is neither possible nor meaningful to hold a debate on a `reasonable,’ `necessary,’ `appropriate,’ or `perspicacious’ punishment from a legal perspective in the current emotionally charged atmosphere.”
The German soccer federation asked for the sanction to be imposed for banners and insults against Leipzig on Feb. 4 as well as previous disturbances against Mainz, Hoffenheim, and the away game in Leipzig.
Dortmund already had a suspended sanction of a partial closure of the south stand at its Westfalenstadion following previous misdemeanors.