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Team of referees with assistant Gittelmann (l.): An alcohol ban could take effect in the next home game
Photo: IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO / IMAGO/RHR-Foto
Borussia Mönchengladbach was leading 2-0 when the Bundesliga game in the VfL Bochum stadium came to an abrupt end in the 68th minute: referee assistant Christian Gittelmann was hit in the head with a drink cup and had to be treated in hospital.
After the incident on Friday evening, there is now a suspect.
According to a statement from the police and the public prosecutor's office, this is a 38-year-old from Bochum.
The police did not provide any details about the suspect or how he could be identified, citing the lack of involvement in the matter.
The investigations are ongoing.
Association against safety fences
VfL Bochum has already reacted.
The club is considering a ban on alcohol in the stands.
This measure is being discussed, said Ilja Kaenzig as spokesman for the management of VfL Bochum of the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung".
The ban on alcohol could take effect in the next home game against Bayer Leverkusen.
Kaenzig, on the other hand, rejected the proposal for safety fences: “We stand for a community experience for the fans in the stadium.
We don't want some idiots to ruin the experience for 99.9 percent of our fans.« Because of the escape and rescue routes, this might not even be possible.
Kaenzig assumes that the police investigations will soon be completed: "We know that more and more witnesses are coming forward, and the pressure is also increasing on social media."
VfL Bochum apologized to the assistant referee after the cup was thrown – and distanced itself from fans who throw cups or other objects onto the field.
The club announced in a message that it would take further steps in the event of identification, "e.g. stadium ban, club exclusion or withdrawal of the season ticket, and reserves the right to claim damages".
apr/dpa