Police are investigating after funeral crosses and a banner carrying death threats were erected in front of the stadium of Bundesliga club Hamburg on Saturday evening.

A banner reading "your time is up, we will get you all" was hung from a fence, while black crosses were stuck in the ground in front of the Volksparkstadion.

The threat is understood to be directed at the Hamburg players.

Hamburg are currently second from bottom in the Bundesliga and could be relegated for the first time in their history this season.

They lost 6-0 away to champions Bayern Munich on Saturday and were travelling back to Hamburg when the banner and crosses were put up.

The desperate sporting situation has poisoned relations between the team and their fans, and threatening banners have been held up at home fixtures earlier this season.

One sign reading "we will hunt you through the city" was erected before a game against Bayer Leverkusen in February, while another saying "thanks for nothing, mercenaries" was displayed at last week's defeat to Mainz.

According to reports in the German media, the club have tripled the night-time security personnel at the stadium following Saturday's incident.