Game stopped: After assistant referee Christian Gittelmann (centre) was hit on the head by a cup during the game between Bochum and Gladbach, things couldn’t go any further on the pitch. (Source: imago images)
Four days later, the cancellation of the game between Bochum and Gladbach dominated the German football landscape. The alleged cup thrower could now be identified. The police interrogated a 38-year-old – who, however, kept a low profile.
After the cup throwing scandal in the Bundesliga, the police in Bochum identified a suspect and interrogated him on the matter. According to a joint statement by the public prosecutor’s office and the police headquarters, the 38-year-old from Bochum “did not get involved during the interrogation”.
In the VfL Bochum game against Borussia Mönchengladbach (0:2) on Friday evening, assistant referee Christian Gittelmann was hit on the head by a beer mug on the sidelines from one of the front rows. The encounter was initially interrupted after almost 70 minutes and then stopped. The police are investigating because of “dangerous bodily harm”.
Comment by Wednesday
VfL announced on Monday afternoon that it had “handed over all available evidence to the police”. The association supports the investigation “with all its strength”.
The control committee of the German Football Association (DFB) has also started the investigation. The club had to give a statement by Wednesday, said VfL. The DFB sports court decides on the match rating. The climber is threatened with a ghost game.
It was the eighth game abandoned in the Bundesliga, the first since April 1, 2011. At that time, a linesman was hit by a beer mug when FC St. Pauli lost 2-0 to Schalke 04.