Several fans of Borussia Dortmund have threatened to boycott the knockout playoff match against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League after ramped-up security measures.
Südtribüne Dortmund, one of the team’s fan clubs, said in a statement: “… the German Federal Police are searching for up to 300 supporters, particularly at German airports, who are to be prevented from attending tomorrow’s match on flimsy pretexts. … This entire procedure has culminated in other Borussia Dortmund fans already in Italy being visited by Italian police at their accommodations.”
“In almost 16 years of continuous European Cup participation, these circumstances are unprecedented for us. For this reason, we, the active groups of the Südtribüne Dortmund, have reluctantly decided to stay away from the match in Bergamo.”
Dortmund leads the contest 2-0 going into the return fixture. The winner will meet either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
“Borussia Dortmund are currently unaware of any detailed background information regarding the measures taken by the authorities,” the club said in a statement.
“While Borussia Dortmund understand the need for security-based risk assessments for football matches, the club is more than surprised by the scope and scale of the police measures taken.”
Published on Feb 25, 2026
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