Sell-out crowd in Hamburg celebrates FC Copenhagen friendship

The story began over 25 years ago, during the 2005/2006 season, when Die Rothosen and Copenhagen drew each other in the first round of the UEFA Cup, with a place in the group stage at stake. Fans of the Danish club had planned a choreo for the first leg in Hamburg, but they ran out of sticky tape. Empathising with their dilemma, HSV fans stepped in to help them out.

In the return leg, the Copenhagen faithful returned the favour and offered a helping hand to the large travelling support from Germany. Despite the dramatic events on the pitch that night - Rafael van der Vaart slotted home an injury-time penalty to secure a 2-1 aggregate win for Hamburg - a friendship was sealed that endures to this day.