FC St. Pauli celebrates a milestone: reportage for the blind is 20 years old!

FC St. Pauli celebrates a milestone: reportage for the blind is 20 years old!

FC St. Pauli's AFM radio has had a remarkable journey. Today, July 3, 2025, this unique project that gives blind and visually impaired fans access to football experiences celebrates its impressive anniversary. Initiated by Katja and Michael Löffler as well as Wolf Schmidt, the idea for the blind report came about after a touching experience by Schmidt in which a blind fan wore a similar jersey. This personal connection was the impetus for commenting on the game out loud, giving blind viewers a new perspective on the games.

Initially, however, Schmidt's ambitions were not pursued without resistance. Despite his efforts to write a letter to the club, there was no response. In 2004, the first reports for the blind took place in the Millerntor Stadium, using improvised means. A year later, in 2005, AFM radio was launched, which to this day broadcasts live at every home and away game and is therefore an indispensable aid for many fans.

A heart for all fans

The AFM radio transmits on the frequency98.6MHz, so that the reports can be received throughout the stadium. It can even be heard in the bathrooms on the back straight to give fans a complete experience. Wolf Schmidt and his team of dedicated employees work primarily on a voluntary basis, and the technology is often provided from their own funds.

Feedback from listeners shows that AFM radio is very popular beyond blind fans. A particular email from Antarctica from a scientist shows reporters describing the game in an emotional and biased way, fostering a deeper sense of community among fans. As a further bonus, the team plans to make the broadcasts available online in the future, making them easier to access for even more people.

The development of reportage for the blind

The idea of ​​reporting for the blind has a long tradition in Germany that goes back to the 1970s. During the first broadcasts in 1999, the story began with the game between Bayer Leverkusen and SSV Ulm. At that time there were only six people present. Since then, many other clubs have adopted this format, so that all first and second division clubs now offer a service for blind fans.

Reporters not only have to describe what is happening in a compressed manner, but also capture the atmosphere in the stadium, which requires a lot of skill. According to Björn Naß, editor of the handbook on reportage for the blind, it is important that the reports are value-free in order to enable listeners to form their own opinions.

Over the years, reporting for the blind has evolved, supported by technological developments that make it possible to follow the games not only in the stadium, but also via the Internet and special apps. The blind reportage not only promotes inclusion, but also integration and a sense of community among all football fans.

The AFM radio is supported by the Supporting Members Department of FC St. Pauli, which has existed since 1998. This department contributes to the financial stability of the association while at the same time supporting social projects and youth development. Through their contributions, hundreds of members help to put into practice the values ​​of tolerance and social responsibility that FC St. Pauli upholds.

We look positively to the future of AFM radio and reporting for the blind as a whole - a new standard that could be established not only in German football, but also internationally. So the hope remains that one day everyone can take part in the game with a radio receiver and headphones, regardless of their physical abilities.