Lighter slat from Berlin
Court decides: evaluation of the scandal game remains invalid
Updated on February 28, 2025 – 7:21 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
In December, a fan of Union Berlin threw a lighter to the goalkeeper of VfL Bochum. Bochum went to court, months later the judgment was now in second instance.
The DFB Federal Court confirmed the judgment of the sports court in the process of the lighter cloak of Berlin. The game is rated 2-0 in favor of VfL Bochum. The club from the Ruhrpott had sued the game rating (1-1) after goalkeeper Patrick Drewes had been thrown off by a fan Union of Berlin with a lighter and could not continue the game.
After the hearing at the beginning of January, the sports court had regarded it as proven that VfL goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was “restricted”. Then Union Berlin appealed, the relegation -threatened clubs Holstein Kiel and FC St. Pauli joined. The 1. FC Heidenheim also criticized the court ruling.
However, the DFB Federal Court now shared the assessment of the sports court. This achieves the highest instance of the DFB. Union Berlin can also pull in front of the constant arbitration court for clubs and corporations. The course in front of the International Sports Court CAS would also be possible.
The decision changes the situation in the relegation battle, the table will be adjusted before the 24th matchday this weekend: thanks to the 2-0 victory and two additional points, VfL will outperform 1. FC Heidenheim by two points and displace the relegation place. Union Berlin on the rank 13 is deducted.
Shortly before the end of the game on December 14th, Bochum’s goalkeeper Patrick Drewes had come to the ground. A fan block from Union Berlin had hit him on the head with a lighter. Drewes had to be brought from the field.
It was 1: 1 at that time. Both teams left the place under the guidance of referee Martin Petersen. Security forces went to the Union block.
After more than 20 minutes of break, the players came back to the square. Not included: Patrick Drewes. Bochum’s goalkeeper could not go on, was replaced by striker Philipp Hofmann. But it wasn’t really played in the few minutes. The players just fit the ball back and forth.
Drewes had to go to the hospital and also stopped training for several days. Bochum appealed against the game rating. Union Berlin was able to determine the perpetrator and handed it over to the police. A stadium ban was also pronounced.
A heated discussion flared up around the case. Drewes threw individual fans and ex-referee Manuel Gräfe in consultation with teammate Felix Passlack acting. According to Bochum’s managing director Ilja Kaenzig, parts of Union Berlin did so. VfL coach Dieter Hecking said: “What has been written and discussed in the past few days, I will stay with it, I think that.”