Shirt Sponsor Deutsche Bahn Rewards Good Behavior Of Hertha Berlin Fans With $1.36M

Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin will receive a €1M ($1.36M) bonus payment from shirt sponsor Deutsche Bahn "due to the good behavior of its fans," according to Carsten Priefer of the BZ. The reason for the bonus payment "is an anti-riot clause in the contract between the club and its sponsor." Deutsche Bahn CEO/Chair Rüdiger Grube said, "We have together with the club and its fans agreed to projects and rules. The smart thing is that Hertha won't be punished if something happens, it will be rewarded if everything goes smoothly. We pay a considerable sum on top of a fixed amount." Riot scenes, like those that occured during last year's relegation matchup against Fortuna Dusseldorf, "did not happen this year" (BZ, 6/1).