- FRANKFURT, Germany: At a time when Germany is playing its best football in years, the organization behind it is trying to tackle problems threatening to tarnish its image.
Referees under probe by tax authorities and the plague of fan violence, especially in lower-tier leagues, are keeping the football federation busy half a year before Germany goes to the European Championship as a favorite for the title.
The DFB has slapped an unprecedented one-season ban on second-division club Dynamo Dresden from the German Cup after its fans rioted at a match one month ago at Borussia Dortmund. The violence left dozens injured, 15 arrested and €150,000 ($200,500) worth of damage at Dortmund’s stadium.