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Borussia Dortmund's Hans-Joachim Watzke sent RB Leipzig death threats

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says he has received death threats from RB Leipzig supporters.

Dortmund and Leipzig played out a troubled Bundesliga match earlier this month with fans clashing before kickoff and BVB supporters holding up offensive banners at the game.

Dortmund, who won the clash 1-0, were punished for their involvement with a €100,000 fine and had to close their south stand for Saturday's 3-0 victory over Wolfsburg.

"If I would publish everything that I have received in the last 14 days," Watzke said. "Among other things, threatening letters that went from, 'We'll hang you up' to 'When you go through east Germany you will not make it even to Saxony.'

"I personally can live with it, I've always been able to deal with it, but it's very painful for my family as well."

Dortmund fans had been protesting against Leipzig due to the fact the club were founded by drinks company Red Bull.

Watzke said previously Leipzig were set up "to sell cans of soda," though he has denied provoking their supporters into sending him death threats.

"In Germany it is always very important that someone says, 'I confess guilt,'" Watzke said. "But honestly, I do not confess to guilt.

"And believe me, I have reflected [on] my statements very intensively and critically. I still do not recognise anything that would have contributed to violence.

"I hate violence. I personally did not attack or discredit anybody from Leipzig. But on the contrary, I have always been a passionate democrat who argues with words for his conviction, with words that do not offend or discriminate."

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