What is allowed in the football stadium? Rules simply explained

What items are you allowed to take into the stadium?

Are you about to visit a stadium and want to find out what you can and can’t take into the stadium? In this guide, we want to provide you with an overview that will prepare you optimally for your next visit to a football match, as the rules of the individual stadiums are sometimes different. But in the end, there are some specific items that really are prohibited in every German football stadium, and for specific reasons. So let’s take a look together at which items you are not allowed to take into the stadium and what is permitted.

What you can expect in the article

Why are you checked at the entrance to the football stadium?
What items are prohibited in a football stadium?
Are the rules the same in all stadiums?
Which items are generally prohibited in all German stadiums?
Betting ban in football stadiums: Betting is not allowed in German stadiums
Political propaganda is not allowed in football stadiums
Conclusion: Find out what you are allowed to take into the stadium before you go

Why are you checked at the entrance to the football stadium?

For security reasons, because thousands to tens of thousands of people come together in a football stadium and a high level of security is required for these crowds. This is why stadium visitors are checked at the entrance, and not just in terms of the validity of their football tickets. Of course, it is necessary to show the ticket at the security check, although this check is now carried out digitally in most football stadiums.

There is also the aspect that you will be patted down as a football fan. This measure is intended to prevent you from smuggling illegal items into the stadium. Female stewards are usually available to pat down female fans. Another security measure outside the football stadium is that bags are checked for their contents.

What items are prohibited in a football stadium?

There are certain rules in a football stadium and one of them is that as a fan you are not allowed to take all your belongings inside the stadium. In this regard, we would first like to discuss a few simple items that are on the banned list in most football stadiums in Germany:

Large umbrellas
Cigarettes (not in all stages)
Bring your own food and drinks
Glass bottles
Large backpacks
Professional camera equipment

These are of course just a few examples, as the stadium rules differ and you should therefore always find out individually which items are not permitted in the respective stadium before your visit. From an international perspective, the following items are actually a no-go in every football stadium:

Pyros
Smoke bombs
Pepper spray
Weapons of all kinds

Are the rules the same in all stadiums?

No, not fundamentally, because there are certainly stadiums in Germany and, of course, especially in other countries where the rules are different. If you are accompanying your football club to an international away match, for example, because you have bought a ticket for the Champions League or other competitions, you should find out in advance exactly which house rules apply in the stadium and what items you are allowed to take inside. This way, you’ll nip any trouble in the bud and can enjoy a great day of football.

Which items are generally prohibited in all German stadiums?

Of course, there are some items that are generally prohibited in all stadiums of German football clubs and should therefore be left at home or, in some cases, not even owned in the first place. We have already mentioned some of these items, but to give you a good overview, make sure that these items are strictly prohibited when visiting a stadium in Germany:

Weapons and dangerous objects of all kinds
Drinks containing alcohol (mainly in breakable containers) and intoxicating drugs
Pyrotechnic articles

Anyone carrying such items can even be prosecuted, depending on the object. The smuggling in and use of pyrotechnics is also likely to result in a permanent stadium ban.

Betting ban in football stadiums: Betting is not allowed in German stadiums

Did you know: Betting is not allowed in German football stadiums because gambling is not legal here. Of course, there are exceptions such as raffles for good causes, which are organised by the clubs themselves, but betting is not possible in football stadiums, so such activities are more likely to take place at the racecourse. And yes, we recognise the irony that many football clubs in Germany have betting companies as sponsors.

Political propaganda is not allowed in football stadiums

Sport and politics shouldn’t mix, but clubs and players still send political messages from time to time. It is therefore not possible to completely separate these areas, but at least on the part of the fans, political propaganda in any direction or for any match is undesirable and therefore political messages in the football stadium, for example via posters, are undesirable. It is likely that fans will have such poster messages taken down. The clubs of these fans may even be fined.

Conclusion: Find out what you are allowed to take into the stadium before you go

Yes, there are indeed many things that fans are not allowed and should not take into the stadium. There is a deeper meaning behind all items and, as a rule, these measures serve to ensure the safety of the players and the fans themselves. Before your first visit to the stadium, simply check the club’s official website to find out which items are not allowed in the stadium and have a look at our lists above to get a basic overview. If you stick to this information, you will avoid trouble, because if you have illegal items with you, you have exactly two options: