After the 0:4 in the relegation first leg at SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Arminia Bielefeld is on the verge of falling into the 3rd division. The game was about to be canceled due to riots in the Bielefeld fan block. The DFB is investigating the incidents.
Fabian Klos is an authentic guy. And that’s why the captain of Arminia Bielefeld after the 0: 4 (0: 1) debacle in the relegation first leg at SV Wehen Wiesbaden not even to utter any perseverance slogans: “The thing is through,” said Klos on Sky. “Good footballers don’t make a good team.” After the past two weeks one had to “rightly deny the character of the team.”
The second division Arminia showed little resistance against the still third division and made it easy for the hosts to score goals.
In the final phase of the game, masked chaotic people caused ugly scenes in the Bielefeld fan block. Firecrackers flew onto the field, a firecracker landed right next to Arminia’s athletic trainer Niklas Klasen. Some people even tried to storm the square. Referee Benjamin Brand sent the teams into the dressing room, after 21 minutes the referee resumed the game. The police positioned themselves in front of the guest block, there was a risk of the game being abandoned if there were further riots.
Klos: “Thank God no one was hurt”
In tears, Klos tried to calm the situation, talked to the supporters and also collected burned-off fireworks. “Thank God no one was hurt. That’s the most important thing,” he said after the game. Klos bit back criticism of the scandalous appearance of the Arminia supporters. “The fans are reacting to what this so-called team put on the pitch today. I can’t put myself in front of this team.”
After the final whistle firecrackers flew out of the guest block again. They burned countless holes in the lawn, clouds of smoke drifted through the stadium in Wiesbaden. The Arminia is now threatened with a drastic punishment by the German Football Association. The DFB control committee is investigating the incidents, as the association confirmed on Saturday.
Klos hints at career continuation
Klos drew parallels to his start in Bielefeld, where he moved to in 2011 during the club’s third-division days. He was “ultimately where I started twelve years ago,” said Klos. “Only that the mood is even worse than it was then.” Already on the last match day, with the 0:4 in Magdeburg, Arminia had presented itself very weakly.
The 35-year-old Klos actually wanted to end his career after last season, but after being relegated from the Bundesliga he extended his contract by another year. It is quite possible that Klos will now also play for Arminia in the 3rd division. “I can’t stop like this,” he said. “I can’t say anything for sure, but if Arminia plays in the 3rd division next season, I’ll be there.”
Arminia distances itself from rioters
Arminia published a statement on the riot in the guest block on Saturday: “We apologize to our hosts,” it said. The behavior of the Arminia chaos was an “unacceptable crossing of borders”, said the association and distanced itself. “We will carefully work through what happened on Friday evening together with the responsible authorities and authorities and support investigations.”
The club praised club idol Klos for his behavior in Wiesbaden as a “role model” and announced that they would “show attitude in the sporting competition” in the second leg on Tuesday (8:45 p.m.).
arminiaManaging Director about riots: “It’s going too far”
Arminia Managing Director Christoph Wortmann
Arminia managing director Christoph Wortmann had already sharply condemned the riot on Friday evening. “With all the frustration and disappointment that I can understand, what happened here goes too far. We’re also talking about possible physical injuries,” he said.
Similar to Klos and trainer Uwe Koschinat, Wortmann blamed the pros for the inglorious events in the guest block. “I can only apologize to the fans for the team’s performance. You can’t approach a game like that,” he said.
Wortmann also announced that the club would seek dialogue with the supporters before the second leg next Tuesday. “We will try everything that Arminia Bielefeld doesn’t show such a face on and off the field again,” said the 46-year-old.
Arminia appearance “disgraceful” according to coach Koschinat
Arminia coach Uwe Koschinat
The sporting analysis by Arminia coach Koschinat was also devastating. He called the initial situation before the second leg on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.) “almost hopeless”. “Wehen bought the guts from us in terms of speed, switching game, aggressiveness, in all areas. That’s embarrassing enough for us as a second division team,” said Koschinat at the press conference after the game. In every respect it was a black day in the history of DSC Arminia Bielefeld.
