Game resumed after 10 minutes
©IMAGO
The third division game between TSV 1860 Munich and Energie Cottbus was overshadowed by a racist incident and was about to be canceled. According to referee Konrad Oldhafer, Justin Butler from Cottbus reported that he had been insulted by monkey noises from the stands. The referee interrupted the game, which Munich won 3-0 (2-0), and only continued it after almost ten minutes. According to the referee, one spectator was expelled from the stadium.
The hosts apologized in a message to Butler and Energie Cottbus. “Due to the quick intervention of FC Energie and TSV 1860 players, surrounding fans and the Lions’ fan support, the spectator was located and handed over to the police,” it said. Efforts are being made to come to terms with it and the viewer will be held accountable using the means available. 1860 stands for equality, diversity and tolerance.
The stadium spokesman spoke of a racist incident and apologized for it from the Munich team’s perspective. Referee Oldhafer told the streaming provider “MagentaSport” that Butler had told him about monkey noises. “I myself had no awareness of it. I immediately signaled to the player that we were taking the issue very seriously.” The referee said he spoke to both captains and Butler.
“After we received notification that the affected spectator who allegedly made these noises had been located and was banned from the stadium, I spoke to him,” said Oldhafer. He asked Butler whether he felt able to continue the game. When the attacker replied in the affirmative, the referee blew his whistle again.
Wollitz: Presidium of 1860 Munich has apologized
“That’s frightening,” commented Cottbus player Axel Borgmann. “I asked Justin and he confirmed it to me. It’s sad that it keeps coming up.” The game is “secondary. For us, it’s about standing behind our player as a team as a representative of society. It happens over and over again, which is sad and unfortunate. I’m glad that the fan was identified and taken out of the stadium.” The executive board of 1860 apologized for the person, reported energy trainer Claus-Dieter Wollitz. “You don’t have to apologize, but I find it very pleasant.” The coach went on to say about the incident: “Nobody needs that, nobody wants that, but it always happens.”
He “said to the referee that he can stop the game to send a signal. We are the losers, the result was 2-0. Just send a signal, we always talk, but nobody acts. That’s sad for the player and sad for 60 Munich.” Lions coach Markus Kauczinski emphasized: “I heard afterwards that this incident had happened. When it was identified, it was clear that it could continue.” After five league wins in a row, Energie suffered another defeat thanks to goals from Thore Jacobsen (39th/foul penalty/45th+4) and King Manu (82nd/own goal). MSV Duisburg is first again after the draw in Osnabrück.