Unable to find a sponsor for the new season, Tennis Borussia Berlin wanted to promote a support fund for victims of far-right violence. But the local FA fears the shirt ad would "provoke a certain group of people."TennisBorussia Berlin, a football club in Germany's fourth-tier Regionalliga, will not be allowed to play in shirts promoting a support fund for victims of far-right violence. The club, known in Germany for its supporters' antifascist views, had submitted multiple requests to promote CURA, a victim support fund for people affected by right-wing violence in Germany, on its football shirt after failing to find a kit sponsor for the new season. But the Northeastern Football Association (NOFV) has rejected the applications, saying in its most recent decision that advertisement could "provoke a certain group of people." The CURA fund is operated by the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, one of Germany's most well-known NGOs campaigning against the far-right. The charity, founded in 1998, is named for the first victim of far-right violence since Germany's reunification in 1990. The NOFV rejected an initial application from Tennis Borussia, also known as TeBe, to advertise the victim support fund for the whole season, citing the association's ban on "advertising political groups with political statements. The Berlin-based club then applied for a special permit to play with the CURA ad as a one-off on the second matchday of the season, only to have their application denied once again.

TeBe decided to put their shirts with the CURA sponsorship on sale. Fans who donate 50 euros or more to CURA will enter a raffle for special edition shirts with the names of the 14 victims of right-wing violence in Berlin since 1990. Right-wing extremism has recently been labelled "the biggest threat to democracy" by German foreign minister Horst Seehofer. Germany recently recorded its highest number of far-right extremist crimes since records began in 2001. Why did the NOFV reject TeBe's application?

"A political statement is noticeable," the NOFV wrote to the club explaining its decision. The association added that the application stands in contrast to what the letter labeled as "the association's religious and political neutrality." While said it rejects any racist or xenophobic views, NOFV also felt TeBe's application carries a political message as the Amadeu Antonio Foundation only shows solidarity with victims of violence by one group, and not with all other violence victims. "In addition to that, we are worried that a certain group of people would feel provoked through this advertisement," the NOFV added. Responding to DW’s request for comment, the NOFV said TeBe’s request came due to CURA’s name specifically mentioning "right-wing" violence, and not all forms of violence.