Dortmund investigating 61 fans for Leipzig conduct
Fan violence at a Feb. 4 match with Bundesliga debutant RB Leipzig is continuing to have an impact at Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund confirmed Friday with a statement on its website that it was investigating 61 fans allegedly responsible for displaying offensive banners during the match targeting Leipzig and its supporters.
Related: Dortmund accepts 'Yellow Wall' closure for RB Leipzig violence
The fans in question could face stadium bans, the cancellation of season tickets, and civil charges stemming from violence and crowd disorder that saw 10 Leipzig supporters injured.
In cooperation with a local police investigation that opened 32 preliminary cases, Dortmund was able to identify those allegedly responsible.
Violence during Dortmund's 1-0 win against a Leipzig side maligned for its corporate ties to energy drink manufacturer Red Bull sees the club's famed Sudtribune 25,000-seater stand closed for this weekend's match with Wolfsburg.
"We feel a collective punishment against Dortmund fans and its Ultra scene is counterproductive and ineffective," a club statement read
Despite claiming that many people innocent of violence during the Leipzig clash will now suffer with the Sudtribune closure, Dortmund insists that it will continue to take the necessary steps to stem incidents of crowd misconduct at its matches.
"We assure all those who were injured, insulted, and disappointed on February 4 that we will continue to do all we can to punish the culprits and prevent a repeat of such incidents."
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