Football Bundesliga
The scandal over the throwing of lighters in Berlin: This is how it continues
After the lighter scandal in Berlin, Bochum lodges an objection. A look into the past shows what could threaten Union. There is news about the perpetrator and the condition of VfL keeper Drewes.
The lighter scandal at the Bundesliga game between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum will probably quickly concern the DFB sports court. The fact that the doctors gave the first all-clear for VfL goalkeeper Patrick Drewes, who was hit, should not prevent the Bochum team from objecting to the rating of the game, which was announced for Monday. In addition to the debate about possible consequences, there is also discussion about whether referee Martin Petersen really should have continued the game.
Why wasn’t the game canceled?
The duel in Berlin was interrupted for more than 25 minutes in stoppage time after Drewes was hit by a lighter thrown from the Union block and had to leave the field in a daze. Referee Petersen later explained the continuation on Sky as follows: “Both teams have agreed to continue playing. Those responsible for security told me that the safety of the players is guaranteed.”
DFB referee instructor Lutz Wagner also supported the approach. “When the decision was made that the safety of everyone involved and the proper implementation was guaranteed, the game had to continue,” Wagner told the “Sportschau”.
However, the Bochum team only continued playing under protest. Striker Philipp Hofmann had to go into goal because the guests could no longer make substitutions. Both teams agreed not to undertake any more attacking actions and only passed the ball back and forth.
What steps is VfL planning?
The Bochum team want to lodge an objection against the rating of the game on Monday. “From our point of view, the referee should have stopped the game, that didn’t happen,” said managing director Ilja Kaenzig. The objection must be submitted in writing within two days. The sports court decides in the first instance and if the game is replayed, the game would be played at the same location.
A possible reason for an objection, which is listed in the legal and procedural rules of the German Football Association (DFB), is the “weakening of one’s own team due to a circumstance that occurred during the game”. This must have been unavoidable and must not be related to the game and an injury sustained during it.
VfL sees this weakening as a given. He assumes that the game will subsequently be counted for VfL, “if you interpret the rules,” said Kaenzig.
In the Sport1 “one-two” Wagner emphasized: “The referee didn’t cut anything off from the start by making any decisions. The sports court’s hands are not tied. The sports court has a free hand.” The incident itself must be punished drastically. “There must be no imitators.”
How is goalkeeper Patrick Drewes?
According to VfL coach Dieter Hecking, Drewes was dazed in the dressing room and was taken to hospital. A spokesman for the Bundesliga soccer team told the German Press Agency on Sunday that the 31-year-old’s concussion test was normal. The keeper suffered from nausea, headaches and malaise.
After the tests, Drewes was allowed to travel from the capital back to the Ruhr area with the club’s doctor. He missed training on Sunday. The people of Bochum have the day off on Monday. Then we look further, said the spokesman.
Has the suspected thrower been found?
Yes, a 27-year-old was found by security and handed over to the police. The man was arrested. A complaint was filed against him for grievous bodily harm. According to police, he was also given a blood test.
What threatens Union Berlin and the perpetrator?
The legal and procedural system also shows that clubs are responsible for the behavior of their fans. In March 2022 there was a similar case involving Bochum. At that time, a VfL fan hit assistant referee Christian Gittelmann with a beer cup during the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The game was then canceled and later scored for Gladbach. The DFB also imposed a 100,000 euro fine on Bochum. Other sanctions are also possible.
In this case, the fan himself was later convicted of bodily harm and had to pay a fine of 3,200 euros and compensation of 800 euros.
What happened in similar cases?
The most famous case is probably the throwing of a golf ball at the then Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. A 16-year-old Freiburg fan hit the world-class keeper in the head shortly before the end in April 2000. Covered in blood, Kahn handed the ball to the referee but was able to end the game. Bayern won 2-1.
The images of the angry Kahn, who was barely held back by manager Uli Hoeneß, remained in the memory. The sports club was sentenced to pay a fine of 75,000 marks.
Referee Petersen also had experience with throwing a lighter. During the cup game between VfL Osnabrück and RB Leipzig in 2015, the referee himself was hit by a throw from the Lower Saxony block. The game was abandoned and counted for Leipzig.
dpa
Source: Stern
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