London (AP) – After the attack on two ARD radio reporters in the Europa League semi-finals between Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham United (2: 1), the Hessian broadcaster heavily criticized the English club and sharply condemned the physical attack.
“A football stadium is not a legal vacuum,” said program director Gabriele Holzner in a statement from the broadcaster. It is expected “from the organizing club that it also creates conditions for reporters from the visiting team so that they can do their job without fear of attacks,” added Holzner. Beatings and physical violence are not tolerable under any circumstances.
The European Football Union will not open any disciplinary proceedings after the attack. The association announced this at the request of the German Press Agency. “The club reacted quickly and will now investigate the incident in order to identify those responsible and ban them,” UEFA said. The ARD agreed with the procedure and therefore had no further complaints.
Fortunately, the reporters affected are doing well
According to the radio reporters concerned, Tim Brockmeier and Philipp Hofmeister are doing well. According to their descriptions, they received “several punches in the back of the head, in the neck, in the back” during the semi-final first leg in London’s Olympic Stadium on Thursday evening. That’s probably not “the fine English way,” wrote Brockmeier on Twitter. He thanked the media staff of the Hessian Bundesliga club, but also the host Premier League club, “who really had to bring us to safety during the break”.
West Ham United also condemned what happened. “We will work to find the perpetrators,” a club spokesman was quoted as saying by “Kicker” on Friday. “You will be banned indefinitely and not allowed to enter the London Stadium or travel with the club. There is no place for such behaviour.”
The attacks came shortly after West Ham equalized in the 21st minute. “We’re being attacked here,” reported Hofmeister during the live broadcast. In the seconds prior, tumult had been audible. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Brockmeier, whose headset had been ripped from his head: “We’re shocked.” During the break, the two reporters from Hessischer Rundfunk changed places and continued to comment from there. “Mentally it was difficult afterwards,” said Hofmeister.