A first leg for VfL
© Imago
In reunion of the 1st FC Union Berlin with VfL Bochum there is a lot of explosive. The two clubs meet on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN) for the first time since the scandalous first leg in Berlin – the game that Bochum’s keeper Patrick Drewes was hit by a lighter on the head. Since then, the relationship between the capitals and the district club has been tense. VfL coach Dieter Hecking also notices that.
“The players and coaches will clearly be in the foreground. I understand the interest around it. But I don’t want to deal with it very much,” said Hecking, but also admitted that the incidents could have arisen a new rivalry that had not existed before. “It’s like a fire that still blazes a bit.”
Since the Berliners, who have been unbeaten since six games, have secure relegation, the sporting explosiveness is only small from a union perspective. And according to Christopher Trimmel, the iron, according to Christopher Trimmel, do not also have a special incentive to see Bochum again. “It is not about revenge, revenge or anything. We turn off the nonsense right away,” said the Union captain. It is about continuing the successful path.
Is there a threatening fan appraiser between Bochum and Union? “It will be loud”
The relationship between the fans is tense. “Maybe there are provocations, something will come from the outside, it will be loud. I know the stadium,” said Trimmel. Union Managing Director of Communication Christian Arbeit said before the game: “It is well prepared. Both clubs have contributed to not heating anything beforehand, but on the contrary: I think we have been very prudent in the past few weeks.”
A Union older-Ruppation called on social media and also with a banner at the last home games under the motto “All in Red to Bochum” to the fan march from the main train station to the stadium-nothing unusual in Bochum. According to “WAZ”, the Bochum police classified the game as a “game with an increased risk” and is on site with a corresponding concept and forces. There is no ban on lighters.
Have a say: Here is discussed in the VfL forum about the game, here with the Unioners
On December 14th, the game in the stadium on the old forestry had to be interrupted in the 92nd minute for more than 25 minutes after Drewes was hit by a lighter from the Union block and had to get off the field. Since Bochum had already exhausted his replacement quota, attacker Philipp Hofmann briefly went into the goal. After that, both teams only fit the ball back and forth to end the encounter at 1-1. But it didn’t remain.
Both the sports and the Federal Supreme Court of the German Football Association rated the game 0-2 for Bochum because of the scandal. Union criticized the judgments and pulled up to the constant arbitration court. Although the Köpenickers had already filed a lawsuit on March 26, it will only be decided in the coming week. The arbitral tribunal did not want to provide additional explosiveness before the second leg. However, it seems unlikely that the judgment will be fundamentally overturned.