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FC Union president could sue Berlin police for heavy-handed tactics after violence at derby sees 175 arrests and 112 officers injured

Dirk Zingler said: "...we see provocation, violence, false imprisonment, breach of public order and an incredible waste of taxpayers’ money"

Tom Sheen
Tuesday 17 March 2015 17:09 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Supporter violence at a Berlin derby on Sunday left 112 police officers injured and 175 fans facing arrests, but FC Union president Dirk Zingler could sue the police for their approach.

The game between FC Union reserves and rivals Dynamo Berlin was delayed for 15 minutes as 30 Union supporters attempted to storm the away section at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

Stewards and police were reported to have been attacked but driven back by pepper spray and batons, however, Zingler has claimed that it was "a massive failure of those who are supposed to protect people."

The violence was eventually stopped, with home fans unable to reach the away section, before match referee Eugen Ostrich continuing the game.

Dynamo went on to win the Regionalliga West match 1-0, thanks to a goal from Martin Zurawsky.

At full time Dynamo supporters began to rip up seats in the away section and fans clashed outside of the ground, eventually leading to 175 arrests and 112 police officers being injured.

"Every injured person is one too many and everyone offenders identified by police will have to answer for his actions," said Sven Schlensog, head of security, on the FC Union website.

Later, club president Dirk Zingler said the club will consider legal action because of the police's heavy-handed approach.

"This is a massive failure of those who are supposed to protect people," he said in a later statement on the website.

"Instead we see provocation, violence, false imprisonment, breach of public order and an incredible waste of taxpayers’ money. Such behaviour destroys any attempts for a trusting cooperation."

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