Thread by @ftamsut

Bayer Leverkusen sealed their first ever Bundesliga title after a 5-0 win vs. Werder Bremen.

During the celebrations, green smoke could be seen on the pitch.

What’s behind it, and what does it have to do with homophobic, anti-queer messages by #Bayer04’s ultras?

Thread 1/14

Werder Bremen’s and Leverkusen’s ultra groups don’t exactly like each other, to say the least.

One of the clearest expressions of it are a series of insulting banners shown in both ends when the two clubs played each other. 2/14

Here, for instance, Werder Bremen ultra group Infamous Youth mock Ultras Leverkusen for their habit of flying to Mallorca in the summer and celebrate there. 3/14

In a bid to insult their rivals, Ultras Leverkusen’s banners often include a discriminatory twist, aiming to Werder Bremen’s ultras’ progressive, pro LGBT positions. 4/14

Here, from 2014, in a banner by Ultras Leverkusen:

“HeterosexuUL - The club’s colors (in green, Werder’s colors) are not interesting, the only thing that matters is the homo flag (an insulting way to refer to the rainbow flag) in their hands.” 5/14

Ultras Leverkusen’s attempts to “insult” their opponents with discriminatory banners continued as both clubs met at Werder’s Weserstadion:

“The Lemon Man (an imaginative figure by UL) says: There are many music genres, but only two genders!” 6/14

The reaction by Werder Bremen’s ultra scene came as both sides met in Leverkusen, a game which sealed #Bayer04’s first ever league title. 7/14

Several Bremen fans apparently managed to smuggle themselves into Leverkusen’s end, handing #Bayer04 fans over with green-white smoke bombs. The home fans assumed it was red pyro. 8/14

As the final whistle was heard and Leverkusen fans stormed the pitch, some fans used the smoke bombs handed to them… and they were green. 9/14

A banner in the away end provides the solution to the question, signed by ultra group UltrA Team Bremen:

“There are many genders, but only two colors! (in green-white)” 10/14

The green smoke could be seen in national German television news, the most watched news show in Germany.

Revenge completed. 11/14

Werder Bremen's ultras are known for their progressive, antifascist, socially aware political stance.

Here's one example of how ultra groups make a real change on the city's streets. 12/14

https://twitter.com/ftamsut/status/1138458679462834177

Here's how Werder Bremen embraced its ultras' position to take a stand against the rising far right in Germany. 13/14

https://twitter.com/ftamsut/status/1064122021800497152

Sources and photos: Wanderers Bremen, @FasziFankurve. 14/14

@FasziFankurve Stating the obvious here: I won’t tolerate any homophobic/transphobic/anti queer comments under my tweets. Anyone making such comments will be blocked.