Riots in debacle – DFB determined against Arminia Bielefeld
Status: 4:17 p.m
The inglorious incidents in the relegation first leg in Wiesbaden will have an aftermath for second division Arminia Bielefeld. First, however, precautions must be taken for the second leg. The DFB has meanwhile started investigations.
DArminia Bielefeld’s helplessness in dealing with the violence of their own fans was just as great after the final whistle as before the sporting debacle in the 0:4 debacle in the relegation first leg against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Coach Uwe Koschinat and club idol Fabian Klos refrained from any criticism of the scandalous performance of the Arminia supporters, who almost caused the game to be abandoned on Friday evening, and blamed it on the team.
“Should I be mad at the fans? I can’t,” Klos said with tears in his eyes. “It’s about the image that the club gives. The fans are reacting to what this so-called team has brought to the pitch. I can’t put myself in front of this team.” Only after the last game of the season on Tuesday at home against Wiesbaden did he want to speak plainly.
Just before the descent: coach Uwe Koschinat (left) and captain Fabian Klos
Quelle: Getty Images
Koschinat also expressed understanding for the violent reactions. Although these were “not in order”. “But we gave the cause. People no longer have any tolerance limits to endure what we offered today or last week.” As on the last day of the second division in the 0: 4 in Magdeburg, his team “failed across the board”.
21 minutes of shame
Because of the massive riots, referee Benjamin Brand sent both teams into the cabins shortly before the end. The game was suspended for 21 minutes after Bielefeld supporters repeatedly fired pyrotechnics onto the pitch and some even tried to storm the pitch.
“A firecracker hit two meters from me. That was extremely dangerous. I have never experienced something like that. I was scared,” Wehen Wiesbaden striker Benedict Hollerbach said about the scandalous incidents. It only continued when the police marched up in front of the guest fan block. “The referee said if another firecracker explodes, he will stop the game,” Klos later reported.
The Arminia is now threatened with a drastic punishment by the German Football Association. Due to the short time, the Bielefeld team need not fear any consequences for the second leg on Tuesday. That is in the spirit of Wehen Wiesbaden coach Markus Kauczinski. “I have no interest in an empty stadium. I don’t want a ghost game,” said the 53-year-old. However, he called on those responsible for East Westphalia to work with the fans to ensure that the game was carried out safely.
“We also talk about possible physical injuries”
Bielefeld’s managing director Christoph Wortmann immediately announced a dialogue with the supporters. “We will talk to the representatives of the fans and hope that we can manage a game in Bielefeld where we can create a positive atmosphere. We will try everything to ensure that Arminia Bielefeld doesn’t show such a face on and off the pitch again,” said the 46-year-old.
It is uncertain whether Arminia Bielefeld can guarantee the safety of the players in the second leg after the riots in Wiesbaden
Quelle: Getty Images
He sharply criticized the behavior of the fans. “With all the frustration and disappointment I can understand, what happened here goes too far. We also talk about possible physical injuries,” said Wortmann. But he didn’t want to absolve the pros of complicity in the inglorious events either: “I can only apologize to the fans for the team’s performance. You can’t approach a game that way.”
The DFB control committee has been investigating the incidents since Saturday afternoon. This was confirmed by the German Football Association of the dpa.
