According to a report by the *Süddeutsche Zeitung* on the evening of May 12, multiple fans of TSV 1860 Munich assaulted a Bayern Munich employee on the street in an attempt to steal a banner belonging to a Bayern fan group.
The incident occurred last weekend after a basketball game between Bayern Munich and Oldenburg. The employee, a fan liaison officer, was attacked alongside his wife by a group of football hooligans from 1860 Munich. Police reports indicate the assailants were five men in their early 20s, all wearing blue neck gaiters. The attack was aimed at seizing a well-known banner in fan circles that reads “Red Munich,” which the employee was carrying. The victim suffered multiple kicks and punches, and one person who came to his aid was pushed into moving traffic.
This assault is seen as retaliation for a previous attempt by Bayern fans to steal a banner from 1860’s ultra group “Blue Vikings” several weeks ago. During that incident, a 1860 Munich fan was beaten but was not in possession of the banner at the time.
In the ultra fan culture, banners are considered sacred objects, and stealing one is viewed as a significant victory. Concerns are growing that if 1860 fans display the stolen “Red Munich” banner in their stadium in the coming weeks, the situation could escalate further.