A ball boy was hit and injured by a burning torch during VfB Stuttgart‘s Champions League encounter against Italian club Atalanta Bergamo (0-2) on Wednesday evening. The police said that fans of the Bundesliga soccer team in particular set off pyrotechnics during the game in the MHP Arena. Hundreds of fuel burnt down throughout the season, endangering spectators in the stadium.
During the second half, according to police, a burning flare flew toward the field and hit a ball boy in the neck. The crime was recorded by surveillance cameras. Rescue workers looked after the boy. The severity of his injuries is not yet known. Another stadium-goer in the block suffered burns and two others had to be treated for the smoke. Spectators in the guest block are also said to have set off pyrotechnics. After the end of the game, around 15 VfB fans are said to have attacked, injured and robbed six Bergamo supporters. Police pursued the fleeing fans and eight VfB supporters were temporarily arrested. They defended themselves during the check, and one police officer was slightly injured.
