Rapid against Sturm

Home game for the experienced fan policeman

On May 1, there will be a derby at the Klagenfurt stadium: Sturm against Graz.(Bild: Alexander Schwab)

Carinthian Patrick Fina has been stationed in Vienna as a so-called "scene expert officer" for a good nine years and is primarily responsible for SK Rapid soccer fans. On May 1st, the policeman, "hobby" vintner and family man will be back on duty in Klagenfurt.

The "Krone" reached the 35-year-old on his spontaneous drive home: the recent frost has not spared his vines either. And so the "hobby" winegrower has to check on his three vineyards (one hectare in total) in Carinthia without further ado - and now has to limit the damage with the help of his father and brother. Especially as his three daughters (5, 3, six months) and his partner are eagerly awaiting his return anyway. Lustig: "My better half is from Carinthia - but we met at the Christmas market in Vienna. I had already been a police officer in the capital for four years by then. We now live in Carinthia again. And I commute."

Patrick Fina doesn't want to give up his blue light job in Vienna. Even though he once completed his police training in Krumpendorf, he was stationed in Vienna from the very beginning. And he has learned to love the capital city - but above all his exciting job: the 35-year-old is a so-called scene-cognizant officer. In other words: a fan policeman. And he is on duty wherever major sporting events are taking place.

When soccer fans go out to cheer on their club, Carinthian police officer Patrick Fina is there. He has known the scene for years.(Bild: zvg)

First and foremost, however, soccer determines his everyday work. Formerly an attacking player in the Carinthian league himself, the passionate kicker and soccer fan is primarily involved with the SK Rapid fan scene, in addition to Vienna Austria, Vienna and Wiener Sportklub. "We are more or less the link between the fans, the club and the police. We try to nip potential risks in the bud in advance, work preventively, influence fans and keep them under control as much as possible. We are of course also present at matches in civilian clothes - whether at home or abroad. On arrivals and departures, in front of and inside the stadiums."

Home game for police officer
This will also be the case next Wednesday, when the Carinthian from Thörl-Maglern has a home game, so to speak. When "his" green and white fans travel to Klagenfurt for the cup final clash against SK Sturm Graz. "That worked very well last year, without any major incidents. And everything is very well planned again this year. The main aim of the event is to prevent contact between the two clubs' supporters, whether on the journey to and from the match or around the stadium."

Which club will he support on May 1? "I'm primarily a fan of Italian soccer - I also regularly attend Udinese Calcio matches," he says diplomatically.