The Berlin Football Association is fully committed to anti-discrimination. We firmly believe that soccer is not just a game, but a platform for community, integration and respect. Any form of discrimination has no place in soccer or at the Berlin Football Association. We are aware of our social responsibility as a soccer association and are committed to actively combating discrimination and promoting a culture of inclusion and respect. Through internal and external training, awareness-raising and prevention measures as well as clear guidelines, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can feel safe and part of TEAM BERLIN on and off the pitch. This applies to all players, coaches, referees, fans and spectators, regardless of any form of discrimination.

Publications

Violence prevention guide for trainers

The following guidelines support trainers in being and becoming active in the prevention of violence and in having options for action in the event of acute violent situations. The focus of the guide is therefore on the areas of prevention work and situational intervention. You can read the guide in one go to gain access to the topic of violence (prevention) in soccer in Berlin. However, you can also use it as a reference book, e.g. if you notice that certain types of behavior are becoming more frequent in your team. In these cases, the guide can be used as a reference book to get suggestions on how to deal with provocations on the pitch in the future, for example. You will also find references to further materials at the relevant points in the guide.

You can find the violence prevention guide for coaches here.

Violence prevention guidelines for officials

The BFV has formulated a violence prevention guide for presidents and board members for the purpose of promoting and demanding violence-free soccer. It can be read and used both in its entirety and in individual sections as a reference work.

You can find the violence prevention guide for officials here.

Season evaluation 2024/2025

The Berlin Football Association's anti-discrimination contact point collects, analyzes and documents reports of incidents of discrimination in BFV match operations. The data is fed from the match and special reports made in DFBnet, the reports received by e-mail or the report button on the BFV website or the TEAM BERLIN APP.

The complete evaluation can be found here: Discrimination incidents season 2024/2025

And here the press article of the BFV.

Survey on incidents of discrimination in Berlin amateur soccer

At the end of 2024, the Berlin Football Association's anti-discrimination contact point conducted a survey on experiences of discrimination in BFV match operations. The aim of the survey was to supplement the documented incidents from special reports, incidents and reports in order to gain an insight into the large dark field - i.e. unreported incidents - of discrimination.

To this end, 116 response forms were evaluated, the results of which - even though they are not very representative - should provide information about the prevalence of discrimination and the perception of measures.

Report on incidents of discrimination in amateur soccer in Berlin

Position of the BFV in dealing with anti-democratic and extremist actors

Unfortunately, we note with concern that anti-democratic, misanthropic and discriminatory attitudes and manners are on the rise in our everyday life together. As we are aware of our social responsibility as the capital's soccer association, we are committed to actively combating discrimination and misanthropy and promoting a culture of inclusion and respect.

Through internal and external training, awareness-raising and prevention measures as well as clear guidelines, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe and part of TEAM BERLIN on and off the pitch. This applies to all players, coaches, referees, fans and spectators, regardless of any form of discrimination.

Position of the BFV in dealing with anti-democratic and extremist actors (PDF)

This game lasts longer than 90 minutes (2010)

A joint publication of the Berliner-Fußball Verband e.V. and the VDK e.V.

This game lasts longer than 90 minutes - Anti-discrimination measures in Berlin amateur soccer (2010)49 pages; Ed.: Berliner Fußball-Verband e.V./VDK e.V.

Campaigns & Projects

Creating structures against anti-Semitism (EVZ Foundation)

The Berlin Football Association is involved in the funding project "Creating structures against anti-Semitism". This project was supported from 2024-2026 by the EVZ Foundation, which promotes initiatives and organizations throughout Germany to enable the establishment, further development and systematic and institutional strengthening of action and intervention skills.

As part of the BFV project, the expansion of the full-time contact point for anti-discrimination was funded in particular.

IHRA definition

The Berlin Football Association has been using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism since 2025, ensuring that antisemitic incidents in all their forms can be recognized and classified in soccer. The IHRA defines antisemitism as follows:

"Anti-Semitism is a particular perception of Jews, which can be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Anti-Semitism is directed in word or deed against Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, as well as against Jewish communal institutions or religious institutions."

By adopting this definition, the BFV is following the example of the German government and many other (soccer) clubs and organizations in Germany. By using the IHRA definition, the BFV is given the opportunity to create awareness within the association that anti-Semitic incidents in soccer occur in all their forms. With this support, the contact point can react to incidents in a targeted manner and develop preventative measures and sanctions based on the circumstances in Berlin amateur soccer.

Alon Meyer, President of MAKKABI Germany:

"The soccer year 2024 once again made painfully clear to us the continued presence of anti-Semitism on our sports fields. The anti-Semitic incidents surrounding the Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv and the anti-Semitic incidents against the B-youth team of Maccabi Berlin - right before the commemoration of the Reichspogromnacht - are examples of this. Unfortunately, far too often anti-Semitic incidents are not responded to appropriately and no action is taken at all. In order to recognize anti-Semitism at an early stage and thus combat it more effectively, the Berlin Football Association is now also following the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. As President of the Jewish umbrella sports association MAKKABI Germany, I expressly welcome the adoption of the IHRA definition by the BFV and hope that many other regional soccer associations will follow this good example in order to educate their own clubs and members about current anti-Semitism and raise awareness of problematic behavior on and off the sports field."

Further information on the IHRA definition can be found at the following link: Working definition of antisemitism.

Federal program against right-wing extremism and misanthropy in sport (DSJ)

The Berlin Football Association is committed to promoting fair play, anti-discrimination and democratic values in Berlin soccer with the "Federal program against right-wing extremism and misanthropy in sport" campaign, funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI), the Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp) and the German Sports Youth (dsj). Discrimination in any form has no place in Berlin soccer. Whether from the perspective of players, coaches or spectators - any reported discrimination is an important step towards deriving targeted measures and promoting fair and anti-discriminatory coexistence.

Together for diversity and respect

The BFV not only wants to generate attention in the short term, but also establish a culture of fair play and anti-discrimination in the long term. Support us in making Berlin soccer a role model for a diverse and respectful coexistence - on and off the pitch.

No place for racism and anti-Semitism

Racism and all other forms of discrimination endanger social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. Even Berlin soccer is not free of this problem, which can only be addressed and solved collectively.

"Kein Platz für Rassismus und Antisemitismus" is a project by Berlin gegen Nazis and the BFV, with the support of the Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus Berlin (MBR). Together with its partners, the BFV wants to reduce discriminatory acts in soccer in the long term and strengthen civil courage.

Project modules

1. protection of affected individuals and organizations.

Installation of representatives for cases of discrimination
Interventive advice from the MBR
Information materials to strengthen civil courage

2. enlightened and diverse association and club culture.

Training for club representatives, referees and other association members
Dialogue formats with club representatives and other target groups (e.g. dialog event 2020)

3. positioning of the soccer community against discrimination

Public campaigns and events (e.g. International Day against Racism)
Club banner "No place for racism and anti-Semitism"

In cooperation with Berlin gegen Nazis, the BFV provides banner print files with the inscriptions "No place for racism" and "No place for anti-Semitism" free of charge.

Language is violence - show respect!

"Language is violence - show respect!" is a campaign by the Berlin Football Association to set an example against the brutalization of language in society and on Berlin's soccer pitches.

The BFV not only wants to draw attention to the brutal use of language, but also to call on its clubs to give verbal and communicative violence just as little space on and off the soccer pitches as physical violence. As part of this campaign, the Berlin Football Association has formulated recommendations for action for its clubs to help raise awareness and take action.