Black smoke for the relegated side: few clubs have ever bid the Bundesliga farewell with so little dignity as 1. FC Köln at the end of the 2011/12 season. During the 4-1 defeat to Bayern in the final game, referee Florian Meyer had to blow early because FC ultras had filled the RheinEnergie-Stadion with black clouds from smoke bombs. Ten minutes before that, police had already massed in front of the Südkurve to stop things from getting even worse.
Because Hertha beat Hoffenheim, Köln dropped into the direct relegation spot. “This is a black day for 1. FC Köln. An incredibly unnecessary relegation,” said interim coach Frank Schaefer.