German railroad workers have appealed to football fans for respect ahead of the start of the new season for Germany’s Bundesliga.
They noted numerous incidents around match days during past seasons.
The railway workers’ union, EVG, also demanded that German national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, should take additional steps to protect employees from unruly football fans.
The trade union’s Chairman Martin Burkert said on Friday that there were frequent altercations, attacks and instances of vandalism on special trains ordered by football clubs.
“We appeal to all football fans at the start of the Bundesliga to behave carefully and respectfully on trains and at stations,” Burkert said.
He added that German football clubs also had a responsibility to influence the behaviour of supporters.
Burkert suggested that Deutsche Bahn should give employees watches equipped with emergency call buttons to summon police.
“Enough transit police officers need to be available to deal with violence and vandalism on match days,” Burkert said, adding that more efforts would be needed to identify perpetrators.
He also called for better train coordination so that trains carrying hostile opposing fans would not arrive at a station at the same time. (dpa/NAN)