In Bielefeld fan scandal in the relegation, an Arminia player becomes a hero: "Lumps in the throat"

Fabian Klos, Arminia Bielefeld, "Man of the Match". © picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Halisch

In the relegation between Wehen and Bielefeld, there was a real scandal in which a Bielefeld player was named "Man of the Match".

Contractions - Relegation games should be celebrations, give the football fan the last thrill. This thrill occasionally causes fans to show off their ugly faces. So much so that the game even has to be abandoned, as in the case of Wehen Wiesbaden against Arminia Bielefeld on the memorable 2 June 2023. Scenes reminiscent of the Lions scandal against Jahn Regensburg or Düsseldorf against Hertha BSC - also in the relegation.

Relegation scandal in contractions: Bielefeld fans ignite, escalate - game interrupted

It was the 62nd minute when the referee called the two teams into the dressing room. Arminia Bielefeld were 0-4 down away from home at the time. For the supporters of the Armines, it was a catastrophic two years. The relegation from the Bundesliga was followed by a lousy second division season with 16th place and after more than 60 minutes the fans finally burst their collars, they tried to get into the interior, pyrotechnics were ignited. While Wehen set off fireworks on the pitch, the away fans in the stands did.

But while both teams disappeared into the dressing room, a Bielefeld hero became the man of the evening, not sporty, but purely human, fair, exemplary. Striker legend Fabian Klos, who actually wanted to leave the club after the Bundesliga relegation, decided before the season for an extension to help his club again. They were images that had never been seen before. Teammates and officials had disappeared into the catacombs, Klos knelt on the halfway line with his face mask and cried. He kept wandering into the corner, trying to calm his fans. "Except for Fabi, you can all go," chanted the Bielefeld supporters in the direction of their team.

Sat.1 commentator Fuss makes Fabian Klos "Man of the Match"

Klos is a crowd favorite in Bielefeld and, at the latest since the campaign, also throughout Germany. The fans on social networks also saw it that way. "Lumps in the throat," one wrote, suitably ambiguous. "Klos didn't deserve that," said another. Wolff-Christoph Fuss, who commentated for Sat.1, made Fabian Klos "Man of the Match" in the 21st minute interruption. Expert Markus Babbel also praised the fair sportsman. "Respect for Fabian Klos!" wrote another on Twitter. "You'd better let Klos go to the microphone, should be the only one who calms it down," commented one fan.

When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the fans shot fireworks onto the pitch again. Fabian Klos clapped with the opposing players at that moment. The negative headlines and images about Bielefeld will remain, but so will the behaviour of Fabian Klos. "It was probably Fabian Klos alone who prevented the game from being abandoned," Fuss sums up. Babbel spoke of "greatness".

"It's incredibly difficult. Thank God no one was harmed. The fans have reacted to what this so-called team has shown on the pitch. I can't stand in front of this team. The thing is over," said Bielefeld's veteran Fabian Klos. "You have to deny the character of this team." At the Sat.1 microphone he added: "My son turned one year today. And that's why I missed it." (ank)