“There was a hasty reaction”
©IMAGO
Ex-Bundesliga professional Donyell Malen experienced an emotional and sometimes painful evening with Aston Villa in the Europa League. The Dutchman had a cup thrown at his head after his first goal in the Premier League club’s 2-1 (2-0) win against BSC Young Boys, but he was undeterred and scored again 15 minutes later.
Malen had given Villa the lead in the 27th minute and cheered in front of the away fans. Objects were then thrown from the audience. A cup hit the former Borussia Dortmund striker in the head. He suffered a minor laceration, but was able to continue playing without bandages – and made it 2-0 three minutes before half-time. For Bern it was only enough to score a goal through Joël Monteiro (90′).
Villa coach Unai Emery called on both sides to show more respect and former Gladbach and current Bern coach Gerardo Seoane apologized for the fans’ behavior. At the same time, however, he blamed Malen. “It’s normal to want to celebrate with your teammates after scoring a goal,” he said (quoted via “Guardians”), but complained that this took place right in front of the guest block. “Our fans took it as a provocation. Unfortunately, that’s part of football. I think our fans shouldn’t react so violently.”
What particularly bothered Seoane was the reaction of the police, who then showed up in large numbers in front of the away area. “The referee asked our captain to go to our fans and he went there to calm things down a bit. Some fans came down to talk to him. The police reacted as if the fans were jumping onto the pitch, but that wasn’t their intention and I think there was a hasty reaction.”
YB captain Loris Benito also explained: “You have to condemn when things are thrown onto the pitch. (The referee; editor) told me that the game has to be interrupted or even stopped if it escalates again.” But then there was a “big misunderstanding”. “The police had the feeling that the fans wanted to come onto the pitch. Then it escalated. I know our fans very well and know that there was no malice behind it the second time. That’s why it’s a shame.”