Jena, 06.08.2026: The upcoming Thuringian Derby between FC Carl Zeiss Jena and FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt may take place without the active fan scene in the Jena Südkurve. The group “Horda Azzuro” has announced that they will not enter block N1 if the capacity is not increased to the structurally possible limit.
- Event: Threatened boycott of the Südkurve
- Reason: Capacity restriction to 800 seats
- Demand: Release of full capacity (1,061 seats)
- Derby date: Sunday, 2:00 PM
Conflict over capacity requirements
Although the structural maximum capacity of the ultra block in the new Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld is 1,061 seats, the city of Jena has set a limit of 800 supporters for the 2026/27 season. This restriction was originally a condition to allow the ultras to remain in the Südkurve despite the proximity to the away section. The fan scene now considers this ongoing limitation to be unfounded.
Background: Security and stadium construction
During the construction of the new Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, security concepts and the spatial separation of fan groups were at the center of official planning. Especially for high-risk matches, capacities are often adjusted by the city of Jena to safely channel fan flows and ensure spatial distance between rival groups.
Parallel to the RWE issue
The current situation is reminiscent of the ticket dispute during the last derby in May 2026. At that time, RWE boycotted the away tickets because the contingent for visiting fans was also limited to 800 seats. For the upcoming duel, the contingent for guests from Erfurt was increased to 1,415 tickets, which was seen by the clubs as a constructive signal. Meanwhile, FC Carl Zeiss Jena has filed an urgent application with the Administrative Court of Gera against the current regulatory notice in order to achieve an increase in capacity for their own curve.
Source:
Jena ultras threaten boycott of the Thuringian Derby
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.