Statement from the city leadership on the departure of Matthias Stein from the Jena fan project

The city leadership of Jena views the departure of long-time project manager Matthias Stein from the sponsoring association of Fanprojekt Jena e.V. as a development of considerable significance. Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Mayor Benjamin Koppe and Head of the Education Department Johannes Schleußner see this as a major change that must be viewed particularly critically in light of the structural developments of recent years.

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche explains:

"Fan projects are a recognized component of youth welfare and fulfil an important function in prevention and social work. They are based on the National Concept for Sport and Safety, which defines nationwide professional standards. This explicitly requires professionally independent and institutionally autonomous socio-educational work, which must be free from structural influence from the fan scene. This independence is not an abstract objective, but a mandatory prerequisite for the professional credibility and effectiveness of fan work."

Mayor Benjamin Koppe acknowledges the extraordinary achievements of Matthias Stein and at the same time clearly classifies the development:

"Matthias Stein has built up and shaped the Jena fan project over decades. His commitment, professional expertise and personal integrity have played a decisive role in shaping this work in our city. As the recipient of the City of Jena's award for civil courage, he stands for responsibility, attitude and social commitment in a special way. The city of Jena, but also the sponsoring association itself, therefore owe him an extraordinary amount."

It is precisely against this background that Koppe views the current development with great concern:

"The fact that Matthias Stein has to end his work in the sponsoring association under the given circumstances fills me with great incomprehension. This development should not be viewed in isolation. It is linked to structural changes within the sponsoring association and its environment in recent years, which have increasingly given rise to serious concerns."

Koppe explicitly mentions the importance of institutional independence and professional distance:

"The professional standards of fan work demand clear institutional independence and a professional proximity-distance relationship with the fan scene. Socio-educational work can only fulfill its task if it is free from influence and free from direct or indirect pressure. However, developments in recent years have revealed a proximity-distance problem that is incompatible with the recognized professional requirements for independent socio-educational work. The impression that structural pressure has been exerted on those responsible is particularly worrying in this context."

Head of Education Johannes Schleußner emphasizes the responsibility for stable and professionally resilient framework conditions:

"Socio-educational fan work is an important part of youth work in our city. Its long-term effectiveness requires stable, independent and professionally viable structures. In light of the current requirements, it is our joint mission to ensure that the quality standards required of the structures are reliably met."

Jena's city leadership has made it clear that securing independent socio-educational fan work is a top priority. Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Mayor Benjamin Koppe and Head of Education Johannes Schleußner conclude:

"The departure of Matthias Stein marks a turning point that makes the existing structural issues visible with new clarity. It is crucial for the city of Jena that socio-educational fan work can be carried out independently, professionally and free from structural or group-related influence in the long term. Current developments confirm that the existing structures and framework conditions must be critically reviewed and reassessed in the ongoing process. The sole benchmark for our actions is to ensure credible, independent and sustainable fan work."