BERLIN — With their heroes set to face Turkey in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday in Berlin, German fans are preparing to take their fight against rising Bundesliga prices to the capital's streets this weekend.
Around 4,000 football fans are expected to demonstrate in Berlin's city centre on Saturday to protest peacefully against the commercialisation of Germany's football league.
In what might come as a surprise to football fans in England, who are used to seeing ticket prices increasing year-by-year, German fans have said enough is enough when it comes to paying to see live Bundesliga action.
Fans from 50 different clubs from the various of the German league will take to the streets in different areas of Berlin and march to the demonstration's rallying point at Berlin's Rotes Rathaus.
'Separate the colours - United in the matter' will be the motto with fans from around 150 supporters groups across Germany expected to attend.
The fans gripes are as wide spread as the clubs they represent: rising ticket prices, fan unfriendly kick-off times and heavy-handed action by the police.
The fans here feel unfairly treated - and above all, powerless.
TeBe fans decided not to attend the march (in as far as TeBe fans did not decide to attend the march) but decided to take part in the discussion with a podium event last night on the subject of "fan culture" and the various differences between fans and their idea of being a fan. The discussion was very interesting but I sadly missed the first "half" because of the Germany and Turkey fans in the underground. When a fuller report appears I will try to summarise it in English.