The capital was quiet until midday ahead of the second division football match and Rhine derby between Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1. FC Cologne. According to the federal police, there were no major incidents, fights or arrests. “It’s very quiet for a derby so far,” a spokesman said.
When the visiting fans arrived from Cologne, there was only minor damage to the property on the train. Ceiling panels were torn off and windows were smashed. More than a thousand federal and state police officers were on duty in Düsseldorf to watch the match.
The derby has previously been classified as a high-risk match. The police have announced that they will be present in the city and in the city area during and after the match. “We intervene early and take consistent action against violent people,” said operations manager Thorsten Fleiß of the state police.