One-Sided Roar: Brøndby vs København Derby Played Under Away Fan Ban
Denmark’s fiercest football rivalry, the New Firm Derby, faced its third straight one-sided crowd as away fan bans reshape the atmosphere, leaving supporters divided over passion, safety, and tradition.
The highly anticipated game between the two biggest clubs of Denmark, Brøndby IF and FC København took place on Saturday afternoon.
The New Firm Derby, or the Copenhagen Derby is known for its intense atmosphere, both on and off the pitch, with the two fan groups notoriously known to be the biggest and loudest of Denmark.
“The home supporters keep trying to outshout the away supporters and the other way around too,” says Nicolai Holm Bruhn-Petersen, a carpenter & Brøndby-fan, ”It makes the atmosphere special,” he says.
The big capital club, FC København (FCK), is the only Danish club to have reached the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, and Brøndby IF, from the western suburbs of Copenhagen, are one of ten original Danish Superliga teams, and known for their proud history.
“FCK is the rival club,” says Bruhn-Petersen, “It is everything contrary to my love for Brøndby.”
But the derby of Copenhagen is different from most European derbies, as authorities frequently bans away supporters, meaning that on Saturday, only Brøndby fans were allowed to attend the game.
The current ban was implemented on October 17th 2024, where riots that saw supporters of both clubs attacking each other with flares and other objects, occurred at Brøndby Stadion prior to kick-off. But it is not the first time a ban like this has been activated. It has been a tool frequently used over the past decade.
The changes in game atmosphere were immediately noticeable.
“Without fans from both sides, there isn’t the same kind of intense atmosphere inside the stadium,” says Bruhn-Petersen, “It’s definitely more fun to watch a football game with supporters from both sides.”
This was the third consecutive time a game between Brøndby and Copenhagen has had only one-way support.
“These sanctions are not because of the general fan groups from neither Brøndby nor FCK, it is really because of some few people ruining it for everybody,” says Bruhn-Petersen, “ I find it very very sad.”
The clubs have since attempted to reintroduce away support, but riots have broken out each time, reinforcing the necessity of the ban.
