SC Paderborn 07 Hit with Record €123K Fine for Pyro Chaos in Relegation

SC Paderborn 07 has set a new negative record: The DFB’s sports court fined the club €123,000—primarily for fan pyrotechnics—making it the highest single-season penalty in the club’s history. The total for 2025/26 now stands at €180,400, with nearly €40,000 allocated to safety measures. Currently, Paderborn ranks 10th in the unofficial 2. Bundesliga fine table—a dubious achievement the club would rather avoid. With 62 points, 18 wins, and a +14 goal difference, the team sits third in the league, just 8 points behind leaders Schalke 04, but the financial burden of fan misconduct looms large.

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Why the Relegation vs. Wolfsburg Exploded into a €62.4K Penalty

The relegation return against VfL Wolfsburg (May 25, 2026, 2-1 win) was the catalyst: €62,400 of the fine stems from this single match. Before kickoff, fans ignited 50 Bengalos on the South Stand of the Home-Deluxe-Arena—each costing €600. During the game, 36 more were set off, and the DFB counted 16 post-match pyrotechnics, totaling 104 Bengalos—a record for the club.

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OWL Derby vs. Bielefeld: Smoke Delay Costs 70% More

At the OWL Derby against Arminia Bielefeld (March 14), fans set off 40 pyros, but the consequences were severe. Heavy smoke delayed kickoff by seven minutes, increasing the fine by 70%. In the second half, 30 tennis balls flew from the away section onto the pitch, causing a three-minute stoppage. Bielefeld’s total fine: €45,800.

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Other Fines: Karlsruhe to Darmstadt

Additional penalties included: - Home game vs. Karlsruher SC (May 8): 10 Bengalos and two thrown objects → €7,000. - Season finale in Darmstadt (May 17): 5 smoke pots → €3,000. - Away game in Hannover (March 2): 6 pyros → €3,600. - Visit to Elversberg (May 3): 2 Bengalos → €1,200.

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Club Response: Fans Under Scrutiny as Budget Strain Grows

„The season couldn’t have ended better with the Bundesliga promotion via relegation,“ said managers Martin Hornberger and Gerrit Denzer in a club statement. Fan support was „sensational“—but the fines highlight the downside. „At the end of the day, we lack funds for youth development,“ they warned. Currently, Paderborn sits third in the 2. Bundesliga (62 pts, 18W-8D-8L) and 8 points behind Schalke, riding a two-game winning streak (WWDDW). Yet the question remains: Can fans curb their behavior without losing their passion?

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Magdeburg Leads the League in Fines—Again

While Paderborn’s €180,400 lands them 10th in 2. Bundesliga fines, 1. FC Magdeburg tops the chart with €534,000+. In the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV leads with €634,400. For Paderborn, the hope is that their current form—third place, +14 goal difference—shifts focus to on-field success rather than financial penalties.