Bundesliga: Who pays to police high-risk games?

Germany's Supreme Court will soon make a ruling on the constitutionality of requiring Bundesliga clubs to pay for the expenses incurred by the police during league matches, which has been a contentious issue for 10 years.

Do football clubs have a legal obligation to cover the costs of police presence at "high-risk" matches?

What constitutes a high-risk match?

According to the DFL, "high-risk matches are matches in which, based on general experience or current knowledge, there is sufficient probability that a particularly dangerous situation will occur." The primary responsibility for deciding whether any given match should be designated as high-risk rests with the home club. However, the German Football Association (Deutscher Fussball Bund) also has the authority to classify a match as particularly at risk of rioting "based on its own findings."

What is the threshold for determining the assessment of a match as high-risk?

Around one in 12 top-tier league matches in Germany are considered high-risk, and this group includes several high-profile regional rivalries.

What led to the legal disagreement?

In 2015, the Bremen police sent the DFL a bill for $438,000 for the police operation to secure a match between Werder Bremen and Hamburg. This was the first time they had done this. The total amount of the disputed bills has since risen to over $3 million.

The legal basis for this is a regulation adopted by the city-state of Bremen in 2014. This regulation states that a fee should be implemented for "profit-driven events" with over 5,000 attendees if extra police are needed at the event location or its vicinity "owing to anticipated acts of violence."

Bremen's right to pass on the costs to the football clubs was upheld twice in higher courts. The DFL then filed an appeal with Germany's highest court.

What points are being presented in support of an argument?

The DFL claims that while clubs are responsible for stadium security, it is the government's job to ensure public safety outside the stadiums. The DFL says this is because the government has the power to use force, so it should fund this task through taxes, not user fees. The DFL also objects to the city-state of Bremen unilaterally classifying matches as high-risk with unclear criteria.

At the Constitutional Court hearing, Bremen's Interior Minister Ulrich Mäurer emphasized the significant financial burden on German states if they were required to significantly increase police officers for potential trouble-prone matches.

"They are being carried by the taxpayers," Mäurer said, arguing that measures implemented by the football clubs for increased security had not yet yielded the desired effect.

Germany's second tyre manufacturer is advocating for major German football leagues to cover the estimated costs of police presence at high-risk matches.

What implications will the Constitutional Court's judgement have?

If Bremen emerges victorious in this case, it could prompt other German states to adopt a similar approach by requiring clubs to cover a portion of the policing expenses for events deemed high-risk. The city-state of Hamburg has already expressed its intent to follow suit.

How do other EU countries address this issue?

In France, since 1995, football clubs have been responsible for the extra costs of police presence at high-risk matches. In Italy, such costs have been shared by the clubs since 2014. In Spain and the UK, the state covers all expenses related to police operations at football events.

This article was originally published in the International English language.

Author: Stefan Nestler

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Crypto Security: Best Practices for Safeguarding Your Digital Assets

As the fashionability of cryptocurrencies continues to soar, it has become imperative for individuals and businesses to prioritize the security of their digital means. With the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies and the rising pitfalls from hackers and cybercriminals, it's pivotal to apply stylish practices to guard your crypto assets. In this composition, we will list some of the most effective strategies and ways to enhance the security of your digital means.

Choose a secure wallet.

The first step in securing your digital means is choosing a dependable and secure portmanteau. There are several types of holdalls available, including tackle holdalls, software holdalls, and online holdalls. Tackle holdalls, similar to Ledger and Trezor, are considered the most secure as they store your private keys offline. Software holdalls, like Exodus and Electrum, are installed on your computer or mobile device, providing a good balance between security and convenience. Online holdalls, on the other hand, are the least secure since they store your private keys on a server, making them vulnerable to playing attempts.

Use strong and unique watchwords.

Creating strong and unique watchwords is essential for guarding your cryptography. Avoid using fluently guessable watchwords similar to your name, birthdate, or simple sequences like" 123456." Instead, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, figures, and special characters. Also, it's pivotal to use a unique word for each of your crypto-related accounts to minimize the threat of unauthorized access. Consider using a word director to securely store and induce strong watchwords.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication( 2FA)Two-factor authentication adds a redundant layer of security to your crypto accounts by taking an alternate form of verification in addition to your signature. This generally involves a unique code generated by an authentication app or transferred to your mobile device. By enabling 2FA, if someone obtains your password, they would still need physical access to your authentication device to gain entry to your account. Most reputable cryptocurrency exchanges and portmanteau providers offer 2FA as an option, and it's largely recommended to enable it for all your accounts.

Be conservative about phishing attempts.

Phishing is a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick druggies into revealing their sensitive information, similar to watchwords or private keys. Phishing attempts can be made through emails, social media dispatches, or indeed fake websites that nearly act as legitimate platforms. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, always double-check the dispatch sender's address, check URLs before entering your credentials, and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Be cautious of unasked dispatches asking for particular information, and never share your private keys or seed expressions with anyone.

Keep software and bias up-to-date.

Regularly streamlining your software and bias is pivotal for maintaining optimal security. Inventors frequently release updates to address vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security of their operations and operating systems. Enable automatic updates whenever possible, or manually check for updates regularly. Also, ensure that your antivirus software is up-to-date and perform regular reviews to detect and remove any implicit malware or contagions that could compromise the security of your digital means.

Apply Cold Storage results

Cold storehouse refers to storing your cryptocurrencies offline, away from internet-connected bias. By keeping your private keys offline, you significantly reduce the threat of unauthorized access and hacking attempts. Tray holdalls are an excellent illustration of cold storehouse results, as they store your private keys in an offline, tamper-evident device. Another cold storage option is using paper holdalls, which involve publishing your private keys and storing them in a secure physical location. Still, it's essential to take redundant preventive measures to protect the physical copies of your private keys from theft or damage.

Diversify your crypto effects.

Diversification isn't only a strategy for investment purposes but also for security. Instead of keeping all your digital means in a single portmanteau or exchange, consider diversifying your effects across multiple holdalls or platforms. This way, indeed, if one account is compromised, your entire crypto portfolio won't be at risk. Research and choose reliable holding companies and exchanges that have a proven track record of security to insure the safety of your investments.

Conclusion

Securing your digital means in the world of cryptocurrencies is of consummate significance. By enforcing the stylish practices bandied about in this composition, you can significantly reduce the threat of theft, hacking, and other security breaches. Flash back to choosing a secure portmanteau, using strong and unique watchwords, enabling two-factor authentication, being conservative with phishing attempts, keeping your software and bias up-to-date, applying cold storehouse results, and diversifying your crypto effects. By taking these visionary measures, you can guard your digital means and enjoy the benefits of the decentralized fiscal revolution brought by cryptocurrencies.

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Four Men Arrested in $155M Crypto Money Laundering Case in Hong kong

 Customs specialists say the supposed illegal tax avoidance organization charged criminal customers a commission of 3% to 5%. 

Hong Kong specialists captured four men associated with contribution in a tax evasion partner that elaborate HK$1.2 billion (US$155 million), the South China Morning Post investigated Thursday. 

The men, matured 24-36, were captured last week during activity "Coin Breaker," SCMP refered to a Hong Kong Customs official as saying. 

It is asserted the organization worked from February 2020 to May this year, with shell organizations utilizing e-wallet accounts and a neighborhood stage to exchange "security coins" gave by Tether Ltd. 

Stuart Hoegner, General Counsel for Tether told CoinDesk by means of Telegram on Thursday his organization didn't issue purported "protection coins." 

It is the main tax evasion case including digital money distinguished by the city's Customs specialists, as per the report. 

Illegal tax avoidance in Hong Kong conveys a greatest punishment of 14 years in jail and a fine of up to HK$5 million (US$643,000).

Source : Greg Ahlstrand/coindesk.com

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