Fan culture in focus: Exciting summer events and strong messages!

Fan culture in focus: Exciting summer events and strong messages!

In Germany, the 2025 summer break was actively used by the fan scene to organize a wide variety of tournaments and events. The fan communities of St. Pauli, Dynamo Dresden, Frankfurt, Bochum, Cottbus, Erfurt, Kaiserslautern and Hoffenheim showed how much football is not just a sport, but also a social event that connects people. So reported Fascination fan curve about a variety of activities that grew out of the broad fan scene.

A highlight in Hamburg was USP's annual Antira tournament in St. Pauli, which took place from May 30th to June 1st. With numerous guests from other countries, including Italy, France and Israel, it was an international event that underlined the importance of anti-fascist initiatives in football. The tournament was accompanied by a harbor tour that provided information about Nazi history and forced labor. In the evening, representatives from cities such as Bremen, Jena, Marseille and Tel Aviv came together in Knust to discuss the state repression against football fans, as FC St. Pauli reports on its website .

United voices against racism

The commitment to combating racism and discrimination was also essential. This topic has received increasing attention in recent years. A current study by Deutschlandfunk shows that despite the efforts of football associations that work particularly against racist statements, there are still worrying tendencies: around 8% of those surveyed have a right-wing extremist worldview. This can be explained by the culture in football, which is often associated with competition and masculinity and often creates an exclusive community that promotes racist attitudes .

An impressive example of the gathering of all participants at the Antira tournament is the atmosphere of networking and dialogue. More than 2,000 people took part in the event, who not only showed off their footballing talent, but also exchanged ideas about alternative football models. Lectures and workshops on awareness concepts made it clear how important it is to convey values ​​in sport.

Regional celebrations and friendships

But it wasn't just Hamburg that celebrated. The 25th anniversary of the friendship with Bergamo was celebrated in Frankfurt. Fans put up banners and collaborative graffiti to show their solidarity. The annual East Curve Summer Cup took place in Bochum, attracting numerous visitors with fun and games. The Ultras Dynamo from Dresden celebrated “Children’s Day in Dynamoland” with over 700 participants, once again demonstrating the close connection between football and community.

In addition, Cottbus offered a beach volleyball tournament and the opportunity to watch the Champions League final together with the “UR Summer and Family Festival 2025”. Sinsheim honored a deceased member with the first “Mo Memorial Tournament,” which attracted fans from Homburg. In Erfurt, the Steigerwaldkurve supported the club’s U16s at “Youth Day”.

Another highlight was the big fireworks display for 1. FC Kaiserslautern's birthday, where many fans gathered in the city area. All of these events not only show how football shapes society, but also how important exchange and cohesion within the fan scene is.

So it remains to be seen: football is much more than just a game. It is a cultural phenomenon that brings together people who advocate for a better society. It is to be hoped that such initiatives to strengthen democracy and diversity in football will continue to be a priority in the coming years.