The throwing of lighters in the Bundesliga game between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum caused discussions. The people of Bochum have announced an objection. The referee explains why the game continued with a field player in the Bochum goal.
VfL Bochum will appeal against the scoring of the Bundesliga game at 1. FC Union Berlin (1:1) after an object was thrown at goalkeeper Patrick Drewes. This will happen on Monday, announced managing director Ilja Kaenzig. “In our opinion, the referee should have stopped the game if the rules were interpreted. The referee has the authority to do that, he didn’t do that. That’s why we ended the game in protest. We will now lodge an appeal on Monday.”
The game was stopped for more than 25 minutes shortly before the end after Drewes was hit by an object from the Union block. The 31-year-old was brought off the field with support. The game was interrupted by referee Martin Petersen and both teams left the pitch.
When the game resumed after a break of more than 25 minutes, Drewes did not return to the field. Since Bochum were no longer allowed to make substitutions, striker Philipp Hofmann went into goal. After the restart, both teams stopped attacking and just passed the ball back and forth until the final whistle. Drewes was driven to the hospital, Kaenzig said. “Drewes was dazed,” confirmed Bochum coach Dieter Hecking after the game.
Referee Petersen describes the scene
Referee Martin Petersen described his point of view on Sky after the game. “I stopped the game because the goalkeeper was on the ground. He had an object hit his head. I first brought staff into the field to ensure medical care. After a short time I decided to send the teams into the dressing room so that we could discuss things.”
It is then necessary to “get everyone together at the table,” explained the referee: “The managers and also the police, whether proper implementation and the safety of the players can continue to be guaranteed. Confirmation came from all sides: the safety of the players is guaranteed. That’s why we continued the game.”
Petersen reported that in the end both teams “agreed to play.” However, the Bochum team said they didn’t want to continue playing and why they came back anyway, Petersen was asked. Petersen replied: “In the end, Bochum’s coach Dieter Hecking came to us in the dressing room and so did Union managing director Horst Heldt. We then discussed together what the situation was. They agreed to continue playing. For me, those are the facts, that’s why we continued the game.”
The further procedure? Petersen outlined that he would now write a report “about the facts” of how everything went down: “Whoever spoke to us now explained why I whistled again.”
He also said that he had consulted with his referee team, “and I also called my bosses briefly. The rules bosses, so to speak, Lutz Wagner. The rules page was explained to me again, or I clarified my own knowledge again – to make sure that I was doing the right thing. Essentially, the safety of the players and the proper execution of the game must be guaranteed. “We were able to answer that with yes for everyone involved. If another incident had happened subsequently, i.e. things had flown into it, the game would have been over. This was also communicated in the stadium via the stadium announcement,” said Petersen.
Perpetrator identified
For him it was a difficult decision, “not a nice day” and at the same time a reminder of a bitter incident: he himself was hit in the head by a lighter in the DFB Cup in 2015. On August 10, 2015, VfL Osnabrück had a sensation in the DFB Cup against RB Leipzig before the game was abandoned. Petersen was hit in the head by a lighter thrown by a spectator. At this point, Osnabrück was leading 1-0. Petersen had to be treated and the game was abandoned a few minutes after the break.
According to Union’s professional football manager Horst Heldt and press spokesman Christian Arbeit, the perpetrator has been identified and handed over to the police. The Berlin fans also mocked Drewes with mocking chants. “With all due respect, we agree that it’s not nice,” said Heldt. “Unfortunately, it has happened now, so we can only apologize. There is no question that we don’t like it. But we mustn’t start condemning the entire gallery.”
“That’s just not appropriate,” Hofmann said of throwing the object from the stands. “It’s a shame for the club because it’s actually a friendly club.”
This is what happens after the objection
The legal and procedural rules of the German Football Association stipulate that an objection to the rating of Bundesliga games must be submitted in writing with reasons within two days of the match day in question.
A possible reason for an objection listed in the regulations 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. Drewes was unable to continue playing in Berlin and was replaced by striker Philipp Hofmann for the remaining minutes. According to the club, the goalkeeper was on the way to the hospital after the game.
According to the regulations, a fee of 500 euros must be paid to the DFB within the objection period. Otherwise the objection would be ineffective. According to the regulations, the sports court decides in the first instance. If a game replay is detected, the game must generally be played again at the same location.
Patrick Krull, Rouven Chlebna