At their home game on Saturday (April 11th, 8:30pm) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, SV Darmstadt 98 will send an important message. Together with the Björn Steiger Foundation and the German Heart Foundation, the club will promote the HERZSICHER (Heart Safe) initiative. The initiative aims to empower as many people as possible to perform CPR in the event of cardiac arrest through free 60-minute resuscitation courses. The German Football Association (DFB) is a cooperation partner.
Every eight minutes, someone in Germany suffers a sudden cardiac arrest – in everyday life, at home, or while playing sports. What happens in the first few minutes before emergency services arrive is crucial for survival. If bystanders begin CPR immediately, the chances of survival increase significantly. This is precisely where HERZSICHER (Heart Safe) comes in: The initiative offers free training courses on chest compressions and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
SV Darmstadt 98, the Björn Steiger Foundation, and the German Heart Foundation are working together to promote this free program. „60 minutes can save a life,“ says Pierre-Enric Steiger, President of the Björn Steiger Foundation. „Our goal is to train as many people as possible in Darmstadt and the surrounding area.“
„Join us and help us save lives and increase the rate of layperson CPR in Germany by registering for a free training course,“ emphasises Dr. Sinann Al Najem of the German Heart Foundation: „Because in the case of cardiac arrest, the chances of survival decrease by about ten percent with every minute without resuscitation.“
Anyone can become a potential lifesaver this way. Via the platform www.herzsicher.de. Clubs, businesses, and individuals can book free training sessions. The unique aspect: Participants choose the location, date, and time themselves. Certified trainers come directly to the club, company, or even the participant’s home. There, they provide practical training for groups of eight or more people in approximately 60 minutes.
SV Darmstadt 98 is leading by example. They offered a full day of training for all employees and are also planning to purchase AEDs.
More information at www.herzsicher.de.
The Björn Steiger Foundation was established in 1969 by Ute and Siegfried Steiger after their son died following a traffic accident due to inadequate emergency care. Since then, the foundation has been tirelessly committed to improving emergency medical services in Germany. Its pioneering initiatives include the introduction of the emergency numbers 110/112, the founding and development of the German Air Rescue Service (DRF), and the installation of emergency call boxes along federal and state highways. The foundation aims to raise awareness of shortcomings in emergency care, stimulate public discourse, and contribute to better emergency services through its own projects, such as the neonatal ambulance and the HeartSafe initiative, as well as concrete solutions – including, in 2025, the filing of a constitutional complaint to create uniform regulations for emergency medical services. Further information is available at: www.steiger-stiftung.de
The German Heart Foundation (Deutsche Herzstiftung e. V.) was founded in 1979 and is today the largest non-profit and independent resource for patients and interested individuals in the field of cardiovascular diseases. One of the Heart Foundation’s main tasks is to provide patients with independent information about cardiovascular diseases, their prevention, and current diagnostic and treatment options. The Heart Foundation is also known for its nationwide awareness campaigns and as a key funding institution for cardiovascular research. The high quality of its information services is due in no small part to the expertise of the approximately 500 heart specialists on the Heart Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Chairman of the Board is cardiologist Prof. Dr. Thomas Voigtländer (Frankfurt am Main), and the patron is Barbara Genscher. Further information is available at: www.herzstiftung.de
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.