When Bochum played Union Berlin in Berlin on 14th December 2024, an incident marred the game. Bochum’s goalkeeper, Patrick Drewes, got hit by a firelighter on the head by a spectator, who threw it to the field. As a result, Drewes could not continue the game.
The referee, Martin Petersen, concluded the game after both parties agreed to continue. The game ended 1-1.
However, Bochum filed an appeal against the game’s evaluation, claiming in DFB’s statues there is a reason for an appeal if, a “weakening of one’s own team due to a circumstance that occurred during the match that was unavoidable and not related to the match and an injury sustained during the match.”
What will the sports court decide?
The sports court will look into the appeal on January 9th 2025 and determine if there was a weakening of Bochum’s team, among other considerations.
The court bears the burden of either:
- Awarding 2-0 to Bochum
- A replay of the game in Berlin
- Confirmation of the result 1-1 played
The incident is a new low in the Bundesliga
Immediately after the game in December, Bochum’s goalkeeper received accusations online of simulation. Some argued it was a harmless incident. However, throwing a firelighter at a player by a spectator was uncalled-for.
I welcome the measures taking by Union Berlin to file a complaint against the spectator and a stadium ban of three years. I hope it will deter copy cats from doing the same in the future.
[…] The DFB sports court has awarded the Bundesliga match between Union Berlin versus Bochum to Bochum’s favor because of the firelighter incident. […]