Shocking moment in Cologne
Full tension against the head: DFB professional hits opponent violently
May 10, 2026 – 8:16 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Bundesliga game between Cologne and Heidenheim provides an unpleasant scene. The focus is on a German hopeful.
1. FC Heidenheim further fueled their hopes of sensationally staying in the league with a 3-1 win at 1. FC Köln on Sunday. In the second half, however, the guests had to endure a shocking moment when Niklas Dorsch was hit badly in the head.
Cologne whiz kid Saïd El Mala looked for a shot in the Heidenheim penalty area, but Dorsch intervened. The Cologne player misjudged, went all the way and hit his opponent in the back of the head with his full instep. Dorsch went straight to the ground and appeared to be briefly unconscious. Referee Sven Jablonski and Jonas Föhrenbach had the presence of mind to put him in the stable side position.
Other teammates frantically called for medical staff. Dorsch had to be treated and a stretcher was quickly ready. To the relief of everyone involved, the midfielder was able to get up quickly. The spectators applauded and El Mala also apologized to his opponent.
The Cologne player, who had already been nominated for the national team by Julian Nagelsmann this season, couldn’t avoid a yellow card. Meanwhile, Dorsch even played through and helped bring Heidenheim’s victory over time. On the last match day, FCH can still jump into the relegation place.
“That’s really unbelievable. Before Easter, nobody bet a cent on us,” said Heidenheim’s managing director Holger Sanwald at DAZN: “Internally, we always believed in ourselves that we could do it.” A friend even spoke of the greatest resurrection since Jesus. “Well, it’s definitely a resurrection,” Sandwald stated.
