Cologne fans were injured in a police operation before the start of the Bundesliga game between VfL Bochum and 1. FC Cologne on Saturday evening. The FC announced this during the game.
“According to the current status, there were problems with entry into the guest area, which resulted in a police operation and injured FC fans,” said a statement from Cologne.
“The scene then decided to withdraw,” the FC said and announced that it would collect “further information”. The fans in the away block watched the game in unusual silence, and the block was far from full.
The Bochum police reported that the “Cologne problem fan scene” had “immediately put strong pressure on the guest entrance” at the Ruhrstadion when they arrived around 5:50 p.m. and “apparently wanted to overrun it directly.” At short notice, the police used sticks and pepper spray “against people in the angry crowd.” Many FC supporters then decided to leave the stadium.
The police initiated investigations into, among other things, breaches of the peace, violations of the Explosives Act and bodily harm offences.