• Banner thought to be aimed at ultra group of rival supporters • German football federation to investigate the matter

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Hertha Berlin have criticised supporters who displayed a large anti-gay banner during the side’s Bundesliga win against Cologne on Saturday.

The banner, approximately 50 metres long, said: “WH96: Rather a mother than two fathers!” It was apparently directed at a Cologne ultra group called Die Wilde Horde 1996 (WH96), whose members have been involved in an ongoing spat with their Berlin counterparts.

Arturo Vidal helps Bayern Munich beat tame Borussia Mönchengladbach Read more

Hertha reacted with a tweet to its fans to “Leave out the stupidity! Hertha Berlin has always distanced itself from every form of discrimination.”

The banner had drawn a mostly negative reaction on social media. Football magazine 11 Freunde wrote: “A pity, Hertha, everything thrown away again.”

Paul Keuter, a Hertha board member, responded by saying: “This stupid discrimination has definitely nothing to do with Hertha Berlin.”

The German football federation is looking into the matter, the chairman of its supervisory board Anton Nachreiner told Cologne newspaper Express.