Tennis balls as a sign of protest against the DFL’s investor plans: In the 2nd Bundesliga, the game Hannover 96 – SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Friday evening (February 16, 2024) was about to be canceled. In between, football was also played in the top game.
Fürth’s Armindo Sieb scored the first goal of the evening when he hit the left corner with a low shot in the 29th minute. But Hannover turned this game around because Phil Neumann headed into the top right corner following a corner (71′). Because Havard Nielsen then served Nicolo Tresoldi – and because Tresoldi pushed the ball over the line as it fell to make it 2-1 (0-1) in stoppage time (90th+1).
In the 2nd Bundesliga table, Hannover moved past the guests from Fürth after their fourth win in a row. Lower Saxony is third in the table with 37 points, at least until Saturday. Then Hamburger SV could climb back into the relegation zone with a win at Hansa Rostock.
The game association from Fürth slipped to fifth place (35 points) after their seventh defeat of the season.
Tennis balls as a sign of protest
The top game of matchday 22 was not one whose footballing highs and lows will be talked about for a long time. But this evening will not be forgotten for a long time. Because there were still: tennis balls that flew out of the Hannover 96 block as a sign of protest against the DFL’s investor plans. And the referee Patrick Ittrich, who interrupted the game twice because of this.
In the meantime, a game abandonment was a realistic scenario. Referee Patrick Ittrich made a third final attempt to restart the game – and this time no tennis balls flew.
Referee Patrick Ittrich throws a tennis ball off the field
protests against the Investor plans the DFL – Hanover’s key role
Previously, Ittrich had stuck to the step-by-step plan and worked through it quite quickly. A good 25 minutes passed between the first tennis ball on the grass (52nd) and the successful continuation. In the meantime, Ittrich had sent the professionals into the catacombs, and before the last attempt an announcement was made by the stadium announcer.
The Hanover location now plays a key role in the disputes. Martin Kind, managing director of the club’s professional department, is in focus because of his role in the vote on the DFL’s planned investor entry. He is said to have voted yes contrary to the instructions of the parent club, but this has not been confirmed. Without that vote, the deal would likely have fallen through.
Last Friday, fans from Hanover showed a banner with Kind’s likeness in a crosshair during the away game at Hamburger SV (4:3). Child then filed a complaint. Against Fürth, banners with crosshairs could be seen again, but this time no child could be seen. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort could be seen.
Franconian derby against Nuremberg
Hannover continues next Saturday (February 24th, 2024) with an away game at VfL Osnabrück. Fürth has a day longer break and then plays in the derby against 1. FC Nürnberg in their own stadium.