Borussia Dortmund is taking legal action against an election campaign sticker produced by the local AfD party.
The sticker, which was designed for the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on 14 September, reads: ‘Black and yellow for football – blue on Sunday.’ In a cease-and-desist letter obtained by the news agency dpa, BVB argues that the AfD’s ‘appropriation’ of the club’s colours is unacceptable.
The document from BVB’s lawyers, which was sent on Friday to Member of Parliament Matthias Helferich and the AfD district association in Dortmund, states: ‘Our client’s iconic crest, club colours and all communication are in a black and yellow colour combination that is unique in the football world and known worldwide.’
BVB: Advertising ‘contradicts the values of Borussia Dortmund’
A spokesperson for the football club told the dpa: ‘In our view, this is an illegal attempt to create a link between BVB and a political stance and political voting behaviour by suggesting that a BVB football fan would or must also vote for the AfD. We do not want to allow this impression to be created, as it contradicts the values of Borussia Dortmund.’
The Junge Freiheit newspaper was the first to report on the club’s action against the AfD. BVB has given Helferich and the AfD district association until Tuesday to sign the cease-and-desist declaration – otherwise legal action will be taken.
Politician Helferich, who was expelled from the North Rhine-Westphalia AfD in the first instance four weeks ago due to controversial statements, told the German Press Agency (dpa): ‘Even if the AfD Dortmund should lose the legal battle, the fact remains that thousands of Dortmund fans will vote for the AfD on 14 September.’
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Borussia Dortmund is taking legal action against an election campaign sticker produced by the local AfD party.
The sticker, which was designed for the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on 14 September, reads: ‘Black and yellow for football – blue on Sunday.’ In a cease-and-desist letter obtained by the news agency dpa, BVB argues that the AfD’s ‘appropriation’ of the club’s colours is unacceptable.
The document from BVB’s lawyers, which was sent on Friday to Member of Parliament Matthias Helferich and the AfD district association in Dortmund, states: ‘Our client’s iconic crest, club colours and all communication are in a black and yellow colour combination that is unique in the football world and known worldwide.’
BVB: Advertising ‘contradicts the values of Borussia Dortmund’
A spokesperson for the football club told the dpa: ‘In our view, this is an illegal attempt to create a link between BVB and a political stance and political voting behaviour by suggesting that a BVB football fan would or must also vote for the AfD. We do not want to allow this impression to be created, as it contradicts the values of Borussia Dortmund.’
The Junge Freiheit newspaper was the first to report on the club’s action against the AfD. BVB has given Helferich and the AfD district association until Tuesday to sign the cease-and-desist declaration – otherwise legal action will be taken.
Politician Helferich, who was expelled from the North Rhine-Westphalia AfD in the first instance four weeks ago due to controversial statements, told the German Press Agency (dpa): ‘Even if the AfD Dortmund should lose the legal battle, the fact remains that thousands of Dortmund fans will vote for the AfD on 14 September.’
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