In the game between Rot-Weiss Essen and SV Waldhof Mannheim, a firecracker from the Mannheim fan block injured RWE keeper Felix Wienand. The police have identified a 50-year-old suspect.
In the 55th minute, a firecracker was thrown from the Mannheim fan block towards the Essen penalty area. It detonated in the immediate vicinity of RWE keeper Felix Wienand. The 23-year-old was taken to hospital after lengthy treatment. After an initial diagnosis, Wienand suffered a blast and an acute stress reaction. The game resumed after a 40-minute break.
Böllerwerfer is a 50-year-old from Ludwigshafen am Rhein
The firecracker thrower was a 50-year-old German from Ludwigshafen am Rhein, as René Bäuml, press spokesman for the Essen police, told SWR Sport on Thursday morning. Emergency services identified the man through video surveillance immediately after the crime, then found him outside the stadium and took him to a police station. Videos circulating on social networks showed Waldhof fans pushing the man out of the block.
Investigation due to dangerous Assault
The 50-year-old is now being investigated for grievous bodily harm and violating the Explosives Act. Since there is no risk of escape, concealment or repetition, the suspect was not arrested but released. What punishment he faces will be decided in court after the investigation is completed.
What’s next for SV Waldhof Mannheim?
It is likely that the sports jurisdiction of the German Football Association will deal with this case. A DFB spokesman confirmed this to SWR Sport. This may take a few days. After various preliminary investigations, the respective clubs are given a deadline to respond. SV Waldhof Mannheim announced a statement at the request of SWR Sport.
The club is likely to face a hefty fine. The Kurpfälzer are considered repeat offenders by the DFB and are in third place in the current penalty table behind Hansa Rostock and Rot-Weiss Essen (€ 103,400).
