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 🇾🇪
Pinned
Matt Ford
@matt4d.bsky.social
· Mar 24
Twenty years of Borussia Dortmund: Watzke on near-bankruptcy, selling players and Klopp
In an exclusive interview the Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke discusses his two decades at the club, saying it has given him more than he was able to give back
www.theguardian.com
🟡 Hans-Joachim Watzke is stepping down after 20 years as Borussia Dortmund CEO
🟡 He insists he's leaving the club "stronger than ever" financially - but is frustrated by the team's current #Bundesliga struggles
🟡 Exclusive interview for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
🟡 He insists he's leaving the club "stronger than ever" financially - but is frustrated by the team's current #Bundesliga struggles
🟡 Exclusive interview for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Matt Ford
Do football ethics matter? To these two they do.
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Do football ethics matter? To these two they do.
On the terraces - and in the boardroom - this week:
🏟️ "Is this to be the future of football?" Fans conduct silent protests against proposed security measures
🔥 How one fan group may have let the rest down
🟡 Inside the Borussia Dortmund AGM
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🏟️ "Is this to be the future of football?" Fans conduct silent protests against proposed security measures
🔥 How one fan group may have let the rest down
🟡 Inside the Borussia Dortmund AGM
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
On the terraces: Silence is golden, boos for BVB President Watzke
In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
On the terraces - and in the boardroom - this week:
🏟️ "Is this to be the future of football?" Fans conduct silent protests against proposed security measures
🔥 How one fan group may have let the rest down
🟡 Inside the Borussia Dortmund AGM
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🏟️ "Is this to be the future of football?" Fans conduct silent protests against proposed security measures
🔥 How one fan group may have let the rest down
🟡 Inside the Borussia Dortmund AGM
Full stories:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...
🟡 #BVB board reshuffle following former CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke's move over to the parent club.
- Carsten Cramer: Director Comms & Marketing (and new board spokesman
- Svenja Schlenker: Director Personnel (plus head of women's football)
- Thomas Treß: Director Finances
- Lars Ricken: Director Sport
- Carsten Cramer: Director Comms & Marketing (and new board spokesman
- Svenja Schlenker: Director Personnel (plus head of women's football)
- Thomas Treß: Director Finances
- Lars Ricken: Director Sport
November 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
🟡 #BVB board reshuffle following former CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke's move over to the parent club.
- Carsten Cramer: Director Comms & Marketing (and new board spokesman
- Svenja Schlenker: Director Personnel (plus head of women's football)
- Thomas Treß: Director Finances
- Lars Ricken: Director Sport
- Carsten Cramer: Director Comms & Marketing (and new board spokesman
- Svenja Schlenker: Director Personnel (plus head of women's football)
- Thomas Treß: Director Finances
- Lars Ricken: Director Sport
"For fan culture. For security. For dialogue."
Baden-Württemberg clubs VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg, Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Heidenheim & TSG Hoffenheim reject "collective measures such as personalised tickets which would affect peaceful fans" and emphasise police figures which show stadiums are safe.
Baden-Württemberg clubs VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg, Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Heidenheim & TSG Hoffenheim reject "collective measures such as personalised tickets which would affect peaceful fans" and emphasise police figures which show stadiums are safe.
Für Fankultur. Für Sicherheit. Für Dialog.
Gemeinsame Stellungnahme zur Versachlichung der Debatte um Stadionsicherheit und Fankultur – Stadionallianzen in Baden-Württemberg als Erfolgsmodell.
Zur Stellungnahme: go.vfb.de/news7057
#VfB | #VfB1893
Gemeinsame Stellungnahme zur Versachlichung der Debatte um Stadionsicherheit und Fankultur – Stadionallianzen in Baden-Württemberg als Erfolgsmodell.
Zur Stellungnahme: go.vfb.de/news7057
#VfB | #VfB1893
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
"For fan culture. For security. For dialogue."
Baden-Württemberg clubs VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg, Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Heidenheim & TSG Hoffenheim reject "collective measures such as personalised tickets which would affect peaceful fans" and emphasise police figures which show stadiums are safe.
Baden-Württemberg clubs VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg, Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Heidenheim & TSG Hoffenheim reject "collective measures such as personalised tickets which would affect peaceful fans" and emphasise police figures which show stadiums are safe.
🇬🇳 You know Serhou Guirassy has had a good night (2 goals) when he has the confidence to switch from French to German mid-interview. Très sympa. #BVB
🟡 Borussia Dortmund beat ten-man Villarreal 4-0 in the first game of Hans-Joachim Watzke's presidency.
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
Trouble on and off the pitch at Dortmund, Bayern thump Freiburg and Köln impress in Frankfurt defeat
On this week’s main show, Manu, Matt and Stefan discuss the major talking points from another weekend of football, focusing on the thrilling 3-3 draw between Dortmund and Stuttgart.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
🇬🇳 You know Serhou Guirassy has had a good night (2 goals) when he has the confidence to switch from French to German mid-interview. Très sympa. #BVB
🟡 Borussia Dortmund beat ten-man Villarreal 4-0 in the first game of Hans-Joachim Watzke's presidency.
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
Trouble on and off the pitch at Dortmund, Bayern thump Freiburg and Köln impress in Frankfurt defeat
On this week’s main show, Manu, Matt and Stefan discuss the major talking points from another weekend of football, focusing on the thrilling 3-3 draw between Dortmund and Stuttgart.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
🟡 Borussia Dortmund beat ten-man Villarreal 4-0 in the first game of Hans-Joachim Watzke's presidency.
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
🎙️ Chatted in depth about Sunday's AGM, Watzke's narrow election win and the generally schizophrenic world of #BVB on this week's Gegenpressing podcast:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/trouble-on...
Reposted by Matt Ford
* Dortmund trouble on and off the pitch
* Uli Hoeneß calls for more competition in the Bundesliga
* Bayern thump Freiburg
* Köln look good despite Frankfurt defeat
This week’s podcast with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social:
* Uli Hoeneß calls for more competition in the Bundesliga
* Bayern thump Freiburg
* Köln look good despite Frankfurt defeat
This week’s podcast with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social:
Trouble on and off the pitch at Dortmund, Bayern thump Freiburg and Köln impress in Frankfurt defeat
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
* Dortmund trouble on and off the pitch
* Uli Hoeneß calls for more competition in the Bundesliga
* Bayern thump Freiburg
* Köln look good despite Frankfurt defeat
This week’s podcast with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social:
* Uli Hoeneß calls for more competition in the Bundesliga
* Bayern thump Freiburg
* Köln look good despite Frankfurt defeat
This week’s podcast with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social:
🇾🇪 New United We Stand and Red News out at Old Trafford tonight - the latter with an exclusive interview with Diogo Dalot.
🇾🇪 We’re lucky to still have two very different fanzines. Buy them, read them, contribute to them and support an independent fan culture in Manchester.
#mufc
🇾🇪 We’re lucky to still have two very different fanzines. Buy them, read them, contribute to them and support an independent fan culture in Manchester.
#mufc
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
🇾🇪 New United We Stand and Red News out at Old Trafford tonight - the latter with an exclusive interview with Diogo Dalot.
🇾🇪 We’re lucky to still have two very different fanzines. Buy them, read them, contribute to them and support an independent fan culture in Manchester.
#mufc
🇾🇪 We’re lucky to still have two very different fanzines. Buy them, read them, contribute to them and support an independent fan culture in Manchester.
#mufc
🟡 Hans-Joachim Watzke is elected club president of Borussia Dortmund with only 59% of the vote - and to the sound of some boos inside the Westfalenhallen. Watzke, who ran unopposed, had previously said that anything less than 70% would concern him. #BVB
November 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
🟡 Hans-Joachim Watzke is elected club president of Borussia Dortmund with only 59% of the vote - and to the sound of some boos inside the Westfalenhallen. Watzke, who ran unopposed, had previously said that anything less than 70% would concern him. #BVB
Reposted by Matt Ford
Watzke on proposed stadium security measures:
"The active fan scene can rest assured that we are on the same page. The interior ministers have completely misjudged the situation. It is not dramatic; we don't need drastic measures. Stadium ban commission & personalised tickets are not acceptable."
"The active fan scene can rest assured that we are on the same page. The interior ministers have completely misjudged the situation. It is not dramatic; we don't need drastic measures. Stadium ban commission & personalised tickets are not acceptable."
November 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Watzke on proposed stadium security measures:
"The active fan scene can rest assured that we are on the same page. The interior ministers have completely misjudged the situation. It is not dramatic; we don't need drastic measures. Stadium ban commission & personalised tickets are not acceptable."
"The active fan scene can rest assured that we are on the same page. The interior ministers have completely misjudged the situation. It is not dramatic; we don't need drastic measures. Stadium ban commission & personalised tickets are not acceptable."
Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund
Members‘ meeting 2025 - for the first ever time in hybrid presence/online format for all 230,000 members.
Outgoing GmbH & Co. KGaA chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke is standing unopposed for election as president of the parent club (e. V.)
#BVB
Members‘ meeting 2025 - for the first ever time in hybrid presence/online format for all 230,000 members.
Outgoing GmbH & Co. KGaA chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke is standing unopposed for election as president of the parent club (e. V.)
#BVB
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund
Members‘ meeting 2025 - for the first ever time in hybrid presence/online format for all 230,000 members.
Outgoing GmbH & Co. KGaA chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke is standing unopposed for election as president of the parent club (e. V.)
#BVB
Members‘ meeting 2025 - for the first ever time in hybrid presence/online format for all 230,000 members.
Outgoing GmbH & Co. KGaA chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke is standing unopposed for election as president of the parent club (e. V.)
#BVB
While fans in Cologne and across Germany have been protesting against repressive security measures, the Ultras Frankfurt (who weren’t in Leipzig last week either) deliver precisely the evidence the politicians and police need by setting off bangers and firing rockets onto the pitch.
Great work, lads
Great work, lads
Während Fans hier in Köln und aus ganz Deutschland gegen repressive Maßnahmen und für eine freie und lebendige Fankultur in sicheren Stadien demonstrieren, zünden die Frankfurter Ultras Böller, schießen mit Raketen und sorgen für eine Spielunterbrechung. Toll, Jungs. Wirklich super.
November 22, 2025 at 9:54 PM
While fans in Cologne and across Germany have been protesting against repressive security measures, the Ultras Frankfurt (who weren’t in Leipzig last week either) deliver precisely the evidence the politicians and police need by setting off bangers and firing rockets onto the pitch.
Great work, lads
Great work, lads
1. FC Köln 3-4 Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt survive a late scare on a dramatic evening in Köln. Said El Mala again impressed off the bench, but Johnny Burkardt had already done the damage.
Report from Köln-Müngersdorf for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/frankfurt-...
Frankfurt survive a late scare on a dramatic evening in Köln. Said El Mala again impressed off the bench, but Johnny Burkardt had already done the damage.
Report from Köln-Müngersdorf for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/frankfurt-...
Frankfurt survive Cologne rollercoaster to extend run
Eintracht Frankfurt extended their unbeaten Bundesliga run to five games with a dramatic 4-3 win in Cologne. They had to survive a late scare but Dino Toppmöller didn't care how they got the job done.
gegenpressing.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
1. FC Köln 3-4 Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt survive a late scare on a dramatic evening in Köln. Said El Mala again impressed off the bench, but Johnny Burkardt had already done the damage.
Report from Köln-Müngersdorf for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/frankfurt-...
Frankfurt survive a late scare on a dramatic evening in Köln. Said El Mala again impressed off the bench, but Johnny Burkardt had already done the damage.
Report from Köln-Müngersdorf for Gegenpressing:
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/frankfurt-...
Reposted by Matt Ford
Man kann sich bei den Ultras Frankfurt wirklich darauf verlassen, dass sie etwas Dummes tun, nur um mal wieder die Krassesten zu sein. #KOESGE
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Man kann sich bei den Ultras Frankfurt wirklich darauf verlassen, dass sie etwas Dummes tun, nur um mal wieder die Krassesten zu sein. #KOESGE
Während Fans hier in Köln und aus ganz Deutschland gegen repressive Maßnahmen und für eine freie und lebendige Fankultur in sicheren Stadien demonstrieren, zünden die Frankfurter Ultras Böller, schießen mit Raketen und sorgen für eine Spielunterbrechung. Toll, Jungs. Wirklich super.
November 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Während Fans hier in Köln und aus ganz Deutschland gegen repressive Maßnahmen und für eine freie und lebendige Fankultur in sicheren Stadien demonstrieren, zünden die Frankfurter Ultras Böller, schießen mit Raketen und sorgen für eine Spielunterbrechung. Toll, Jungs. Wirklich super.
HT: Köln 1-2 Frankfurt
Strange game. Köln generally solid with Ache as a dangerous outlet - as with opening goal, when he laid off well to Kaminski. But an impressive-looking Theate reserve-header and good pressing in injury time leading to Dahoud‘s goal see Frankfurt ahead at HT. #bundesliga
Strange game. Köln generally solid with Ache as a dangerous outlet - as with opening goal, when he laid off well to Kaminski. But an impressive-looking Theate reserve-header and good pressing in injury time leading to Dahoud‘s goal see Frankfurt ahead at HT. #bundesliga
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
HT: Köln 1-2 Frankfurt
Strange game. Köln generally solid with Ache as a dangerous outlet - as with opening goal, when he laid off well to Kaminski. But an impressive-looking Theate reserve-header and good pressing in injury time leading to Dahoud‘s goal see Frankfurt ahead at HT. #bundesliga
Strange game. Köln generally solid with Ache as a dangerous outlet - as with opening goal, when he laid off well to Kaminski. But an impressive-looking Theate reserve-header and good pressing in injury time leading to Dahoud‘s goal see Frankfurt ahead at HT. #bundesliga
"We burn for the present and will determine our future ourselves"
1. FC Köln supporters end their 12-min atmosphere boycott with chants of "Scheiß Eintracht Frankfurt" plus pyrotechnics.
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln supporters end their 12-min atmosphere boycott with chants of "Scheiß Eintracht Frankfurt" plus pyrotechnics.
#bundesliga
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"We burn for the present and will determine our future ourselves"
1. FC Köln supporters end their 12-min atmosphere boycott with chants of "Scheiß Eintracht Frankfurt" plus pyrotechnics.
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln supporters end their 12-min atmosphere boycott with chants of "Scheiß Eintracht Frankfurt" plus pyrotechnics.
#bundesliga
🤫 Silence in Köln.
1. FC Köln ultras in their matchday flyer: "We don’t enjoy freezing our arses off in Leipzig on football-free weekends or keeping our gobs shut for 12 minutes either. But the overall goal remains: preventing the ministers‘ absurd measures."
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln ultras in their matchday flyer: "We don’t enjoy freezing our arses off in Leipzig on football-free weekends or keeping our gobs shut for 12 minutes either. But the overall goal remains: preventing the ministers‘ absurd measures."
#bundesliga
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
🤫 Silence in Köln.
1. FC Köln ultras in their matchday flyer: "We don’t enjoy freezing our arses off in Leipzig on football-free weekends or keeping our gobs shut for 12 minutes either. But the overall goal remains: preventing the ministers‘ absurd measures."
#bundesliga
1. FC Köln ultras in their matchday flyer: "We don’t enjoy freezing our arses off in Leipzig on football-free weekends or keeping our gobs shut for 12 minutes either. But the overall goal remains: preventing the ministers‘ absurd measures."
#bundesliga
Reposted by Matt Ford
12 minutes of silence in Dortmund: "Is this to be the future of football?“
BVB supporters: "Clubs & federations: defend your terraces from populists!"
Stuttgart supporters: "Clubs: go on the offensive against populism!"
#bundesliga
BVB supporters: "Clubs & federations: defend your terraces from populists!"
Stuttgart supporters: "Clubs: go on the offensive against populism!"
#bundesliga
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
12 minutes of silence in Dortmund: "Is this to be the future of football?“
BVB supporters: "Clubs & federations: defend your terraces from populists!"
Stuttgart supporters: "Clubs: go on the offensive against populism!"
#bundesliga
BVB supporters: "Clubs & federations: defend your terraces from populists!"
Stuttgart supporters: "Clubs: go on the offensive against populism!"
#bundesliga
Leaflets distributed by the "Südtribüne Dortmund" at the Westfalenstadion this afternoon, calling on politicians to "return to the facts, make deliberations public and tone down the rhetoric," and on DFL/DFB to "show politicians how nonsensical their populist demands are."
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
November 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Leaflets distributed by the "Südtribüne Dortmund" at the Westfalenstadion this afternoon, calling on politicians to "return to the facts, make deliberations public and tone down the rhetoric," and on DFL/DFB to "show politicians how nonsensical their populist demands are."
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
📷 @schwatzgelb.de #BVB
Reposted by Matt Ford
The German Football League (DFL), which operates the #Bundesliga, and German Football Federation (DFB) have expressed their support for football fans engaged in nationwide protests against proposed new stadium security measures ➡️ p.dw.com/p/542R9
Football: Bundesliga backs fan protests against proposed security measures – DW – 11/21/2025
p.dw.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The German Football League (DFL), which operates the #Bundesliga, and German Football Federation (DFB) have expressed their support for football fans engaged in nationwide protests against proposed new stadium security measures ➡️ p.dw.com/p/542R9
Reposted by Matt Ford
The incredible thing about this is that I saw none of this on official channels. Unless you and fans post it, it's like it never happened. The media, and especially the broadcasters, are so beholden to the league and clubs. It's so sad.
November 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The incredible thing about this is that I saw none of this on official channels. Unless you and fans post it, it's like it never happened. The media, and especially the broadcasters, are so beholden to the league and clubs. It's so sad.
"Interior ministers: you are creating fear where there is no danger - against repression and a surveillance state - freedom for the terraces!"
A mixed picture in Mainz last night where not all groups took part in the 12-min atmosphere boycott, while others opted for banners instead.
#bundesliga
A mixed picture in Mainz last night where not all groups took part in the 12-min atmosphere boycott, while others opted for banners instead.
#bundesliga
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
"Interior ministers: you are creating fear where there is no danger - against repression and a surveillance state - freedom for the terraces!"
A mixed picture in Mainz last night where not all groups took part in the 12-min atmosphere boycott, while others opted for banners instead.
#bundesliga
A mixed picture in Mainz last night where not all groups took part in the 12-min atmosphere boycott, while others opted for banners instead.
#bundesliga
Reposted by Matt Ford
After Sunday's demonstration in Leipzig, the "Fanszenen Deutschlands" have called on supporters across Germany to remain silent for the first 12 minutes of matches this weekend in order to show "the contrast between vibrant fan culture and silent stands."
#Bundesliga
#Bundesliga
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
After Sunday's demonstration in Leipzig, the "Fanszenen Deutschlands" have called on supporters across Germany to remain silent for the first 12 minutes of matches this weekend in order to show "the contrast between vibrant fan culture and silent stands."
#Bundesliga
#Bundesliga