Lighter throwing ensures chaos: VfL Bochum fights for game rating!

Lighter throwing ensures chaos: VfL Bochum fights for game rating!

On January 9, 2025, there will be an oral hearing from the DFB sports court in Frankfurt/Main. The focus is on VfL Bochum's objection against the evaluation of the game at 1. FC Union Berlin, which ended on December 14, 2024 with a 1-1. The incident that led to controversy occurred when Bochum's goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was hit by a lighter before the game cancel. Although the game was interrupted for more than 25 minutes, the team was able to continue playing without Drewes because all exchange options were already exhausted.

Patrick Drewes, who was brought into the cabin after the incident, suffered from nausea and headache minutes later. A subsequent test for concussion was inconspicuous, but the situation caused unrest and discussions in fan circles. Drewes is accused of having discussed an acting insert. In this context, Bochum's managing director Ilja Kaenzig made it clear that the incident could result in legal consequences, and he believes in a subsequent evaluation of the game in favor of Bochum.

witnesses and statements

to support the objection, VfL Bochum has named a number of witnesses, including Drewes himself, team doctor Mark Sandfort, coach Dieter Hecking and Felix Passlack. Sports Managing Director Horst Heldt von Union Berlin and referee Martin Petersen will also testify. The remarkable situation of continuing the game with the field player Philipp Hofmann in the goal also caught the eye.

The DFB has requested the statements of the parties involved to defend it and plans to evaluate the statements in detail during the trial. In this case, the DFB referee teacher Lutz Wagner defended the procedure of referee Petersen. In order to clarify the situation, a comparison to a similar incident in March 2022 is also made when a beer cup throw led to a game of the game.

consequences and legal aspects

Union Berlin has already taken disciplinary measures and imposed a three -year stadium ban on a suspected perpetrator. The identity of the lighter thrower was determined and the police were handed over to the police who filed a complaint against him. In addition to the ban on the stadium, Union Berlin could also fines and threaten fans' exclusions, the situation should develop negatively.

The DFB statutes stipulate that the objection can be recognized as "weakening of your own team by a fact that has occurred during the game". Kaenzig hopes that the judges classify the incident as so serious that the game will be rated in favor of VfL Bochum. A subsequent victory would have the potential to help Bochum decisively in the relegation battle.

football games can have significant legal consequences for fans if they violate existing laws. Frequent charges contain physical injuries and property damage that can lead to prison terms in stadiums. Stadium bans can be taken independently of criminal proceedings and contribute to the preservation of security, which underlines the importance of a suitable legal framework.