The “Curva Berna” ultra group of the SC Bern ice hockey club has announced a complete boycott of the upcoming Zähringen derby against HC Fribourg-Gottéron due to strict travel restrictions imposed by regional authorities, according to reports by Blick Sport and local reporting from RadioFr.
Derby Background and the Staking of the Match
In past seasons, fans of CP Berne frequently chanted “Nie Schweizermeister” (Never Swiss Champions) at their rivals from Fribourg-Gottéron. However, that dynamic shifted in April when the Dragons captured their first Swiss championship title in Davos. Tuesday night’s match marks the first derby between the two clubs since Fribourg claimed that title, raising expectations of a special pre-game display from home supporters. The Curva Berna will miss any such choreography, choosing instead to stay away from the BCF Arena in protest.
Travel Restrictions Spark Friction Between Authorities and Club
The Prefecture of the Sarine enacted a strict preventive security policy following clashes between rival fans at railway stations—including Poya, Fribourg, and Guin—during previous encounters. Authorities ruled that visiting Bernese fans may only access the visitor sector of the BCF Arena if they hold a combined ticket requiring mandatory travel on designated special trains or buses. This decision followed consultations involving the Prefecture of the Singine, the Fribourg Cantonal Police, the National League, and both hockey clubs, as reported by RadioFr.
CP Berne publicly criticized the measures, noting that officials gave them a tight three-day window to formulate alternatives. The club proposed a pragmatic solution utilizing regular train services accompanied by security personnel, which it argued would satisfy security demands while securing stadium access for supporters. Regional authorities rejected that proposal, leading the club to state that neither management nor the fans understand the hasty administrative decision. CP Berne also emphasized that the restriction originated entirely with the cantonal authorities rather than HC Fribourg-Gottéron.
Ultra Group Boycott Plans and City Dispersal
While the Curva Berna rejected what it termed an “extreme restriction” regarding match attendance, the group’s supporters still plan to travel to Fribourg. According to announcements on the group’s official channels cited by Blick Sport, fans will take standard trains and buses arriving in Fribourg starting at 5:30 PM. The ultras instructed members to travel in small groups to avoid drawing attention, disperse among local cafes and bars, and later gather at a designated meeting point before marching toward the Saint-Léonard plateau and the ice rink.
Local authorities enforcing the preventive safety measures now face a scenario where hundreds of ultra fans will populate Fribourg’s bars and streets rather than remaining contained within the small visitor sector of the BCF Arena. The Fribourg Cantonal Police and the Prefecture of the Sarine are coordinating a specialized security deployment to monitor the supporters based on ongoing intelligence.
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