City of Jena reacts to recent incidents around the Ernst Abbe sports field
In the night from August 25 to 26, 2025, around 80 stickers were found in the vicinity of and on facilities at the Ernst Abbe sports field, which were specifically directed against Mayor Benjamin Koppe, Thomas Wehling, head of the command group of the Jena state police inspection, Sebastian Wick, head of the municipal order department, and Andreas Kuhn, managing director of elf5 GmbH. The stickers show photos of the people concerned and bear the words "Persona non grata" and "Enemy of Jena soccer".
The stickers were not only affixed to fences, gates and ticket booths at the stadium, but also to traffic signs, electricity boxes and light poles in the wider city area. The Jena State Police Inspectorate assumes that there are three suspects, two of whom are male and whose identities have been revealed. Preliminary proceedings have been initiated against the suspects for defamation, among other things.
The content of these stickers is directly related to incidents at FC Carl Zeiss Jena's first home game of the new regional league season, at which the same people were publicly attacked in an insulting manner with banners and abusive chants. In this context, criminal charges of insult and defamation have been filed.
The city of Jena makes it clear that these are not isolated provocations, but a continuing campaign aimed at publicly disparaging those responsible in the administration, police and stadium operations. Such actions cross the line of democratic discourse and will not be tolerated by the city of Jena. Criticism is legitimate, targeted disparagement and public marking of enemies is not. Further incidents of this kind will be dealt with consistently, including the initiation of all possible legal steps.
Background
Due to the incidents during the regional league match between FC Carl Zeiss Jena and BSG Chemie Leipzig on November 30, 2024 and the associated investigations by the Gera public prosecutor's office for breach of the peace, the city of Jena issued a total of 61 bans in a staged procedure. The city of Jena thus reacted decisively to behavior that endangered safety. The bans serve to protect all those who wish to attend a soccer match peacefully and support FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
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