Dietmar Hopp Celebrates 85th Birthday Away from BVB Fans

Dietmar Hopp, the billionaire benefactor of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, will mark his 85th birthday without the presence of Borussia Dortmund fans, with whom he has a long-standing enmity. The occasion will take place away from the Sinsheim stadium, as confirmed by the club prior to the Bundesliga match against Dortmund scheduled for Saturday at 15:30 (local time).

Hopp, who has faced health issues in recent years, has not attended every home game at the arena. „The club and GmbH of TSG Hoffenheim will congratulate Dietmar Hopp in a small circle on Saturday for his 85th birthday,“ said Hoffenheim’s club president Jörg Albrecht. „There are no official plans in the arena, but it is our greatest wish to celebrate together with our fans in the afternoon with three points against Dortmund.“

Controversial Fan Relations

The long-time majority shareholder has dealt with insults from rival fan groups, making him a target from the start. The situation escalated significantly with Dortmund, particularly due to a target cross poster featuring Hopp’s likeness displayed by BVB supporters in the stadium.

The German Football Association’s (DFB) sports court sanctioned Dortmund for this incident, sparking a nationwide debate among fans regarding collective punishment. However, the penalties had little impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting empty stadiums.

There have also been numerous legal proceedings against BVB fans at the Sinsheim District Court, some of which were dismissed after financial settlements. In 2022, Hopp withdrew three criminal complaints.