Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has "urged fans to avoid protests over a new league security plan" when it takes on Hannover 96 in Wednesday's German Cup round of 16 tie, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. Many Bundesliga fans, "angry with the newly-approved tighter security rules in and around stadiums that they say are spoiling the experience, have protested by staying silent for the opening 12 minutes of dozens of games in recent weeks." Dortmund said on Tuesday in a letter signed by captain Sebastian Kehl, coach Jürgen Klopp, Sports Dir Michael Zorc and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, "We know that protests are planned among some fans for the game against Hannover, but we also know that many fans will be supporting us. We ask you not to allow trenches to be dug within the fan community and between you and us." The German Football League (DFL) and the 36 clubs from the top-two divisions "voted last week in favour of tougher stadium checks, an increased crackdown as well as sanctions for flares and smoke bombs, video monitoring, and better-trained security staff" (REUTERS, 12/18).
