When Florian Wirtz put the ball into the net to make it 4-0, there was no stopping Bayer Leverkusen fans: they stormed the pitch in anticipation of their first German championship. Although the match against Werder Bremen was completed properly, the Werkself still had to pay a penalty.
Florian Wirtz (#10) tried to slow down the audience after the championship was (almost) decided. IMAGO/Norbert Schmidt
Leverkusen’s spectators were able to hold back for 84 minutes during the match against SV Werder Bremen, but then there was no stopping them. When Florian Wirtz pushed the ball over the line for his second goal, giving the Werkself a 4-0 lead and the 29th match of this fabulous Leverkusen season was no longer in danger of being lost, the fans were sure of the first German championship in the club’s history – and left their seats in droves.
The goalscorer was able to quickly slow down the fans who were rushing onto the pitch with clear gestures and delay the final invasion until after the final whistle, before which the goal that made the final score 5-0 was scored. However, the outburst of emotion still has consequences – albeit on a tolerable scale.
The DFB Sports Court’s Control Committee fined the Werkself 19,000 euros for the interruption of play caused by the brief, premature invasion of the pitch in the 84th minute and for four Bengal lights lit after the final whistle. Leverkusen have agreed to the fine, of which up to 6,300 can be invested in safety or violence prevention measures, and it is therefore legally binding.
2024-07-02 16:10:11
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