The game between VfL and Borussia Mönchengladbach is overshadowed by a frightening scene. The referee reacts immediately – and makes a consistent decision.
These are scenes that nobody wants to see: The Bundesliga game between VfL Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach was stopped after 69 minutes with the score being 2-0 for the guests. Linesman Christian Gittelmann was hit in the head by a mug. Referee Benjamin Cortus reacted immediately and went into the dressing room with his team, the game was initially interrupted. After some consultation time it became clear: The game will not be kicked off again.
What exactly happened?
The 69th minute: After a Bochum attack, Gladbach are back on the attack. Cortus interrupts the game directly. The television pictures show Gittelmann kneeling on the sidelines near the Gladbach penalty area. Cortus immediately runs to his assistant, who keeps rubbing the back of his head.
Only in slow-motion images does it become clear: Gittelmann was hit by a full beer mug. While the referees leave the pitch, the Bochum players rush to their fans, goalkeeper Manuel Riemann and captain Anthony Losilla are angry and swear in the direction of the curve.
VfL sporting director: “That’s not acceptable”
With announcements, the stadium announcer had repeatedly pointed out that the spectators should refrain from throwing objects. It didn’t work. “You’re not just hurting yourself, you’re hurting others and you’re hurting our club,” said the stadium announcer. At first the fans of both clubs sang, the longer the interruption lasted, the quieter it became in the stadium.
The Gladbach players then ran into the dressing room. At 10:19 p.m., the stadium announcer announced: “The game will not be restarted. The game is officially canceled.” The Gladbachers came out of the dressing room again, ran into their corner and applauded their fans. The last scenes on the lawn in the Bochum stadium – and the ugly end of a game that became a scandalous game.
VfL sports director Sebastian Schindzielorz then said on DAZN: “You have to apologize in every form for the incident. It’s a shame that we’re allowed to play in front of 25,000 spectators again for the first time and the game doesn’t have a sporting end. That’s not acceptable . We have to apologize formally.”