The German Football Association announced this on Thursday after a single-judge procedure by the DFB sports court. VfL Bochum has accepted the verdict.
Bochum wanted a replay
On Wednesday, the club had demanded a replay of the game, claiming that the “criminal” bought his drink legally and that VfL was not to blame for the crime.
“VfL Bochum 1848 still strongly condemns this incident. Nevertheless, it was and is the duty of VfL Bochum 1848 to protect the rights of the club in the scheduled sports court proceedings. VfL has always emphasized that it accepts appropriate decisions from the DFB“, said the Bochumer.
“Club is responsible for its spectators”
“According to the legal and procedural rules of the DFB that apply to all clubs, the game is for the VfL Bochum with 0:2 as lost because the club is responsible for its spectators and the culpability of the spectators is attributable to the club”, Stephan Oberholz, the chairman of the DFB sports court, is quoted in the message.
“The game re-evaluation is mandatory as a legal consequence in paragraph 18, number 4, and there is no alternative. A replay or a replay of the last 20 minutes is therefore not possible.” Bochum had requested a replay.
Decision on sanctions against Bochum postponed
In the game in Bochum at the start of the 27th Bundesliga match day, Gittelmann was hit in the head in the 68th minute by a drink cup that had been thrown from a stand with mainly Bochum fans. As a result, referee Benjamin Cortus initially interrupted the game when Gladbach was 2-0 and then stopped it shortly afterwards.
After the indictment by the DFB control committee, the DFB sports court wants to make a separate decision on possible further sanctions against Bochum at a later date.
Investigations are ongoing
The police have since identified a suspect. According to a joint statement from the police and the public prosecutor’s office, this is a 38-year-old from Bochum. At first he did not get involved, and the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, VfL is considering a ban on alcohol in the stands. This measure will be discussed, said Ilja Kaenzig as spokesman for the management of the VfL Bochum the “Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung”. The alcohol ban could take effect in the next home game against Bayer Leverkusen.