As of: February 11, 2024, 5:03 a.m
By: Korbinian Kothny
Comments
Press
Split
The second division game between Hamburger SV and Hannover 96 is overshadowed by fan protests.
96 boss Martin Kind in particular is the focus of his own fans - and reacts.
Hamburg - Bicycle locks, tasteless banners - several interruptions: The fan protests in the northern duel between Hamburger SV and Hannover 96 in the 2nd Bundesliga have reached a new level of escalation.
The game was on the verge of being abandoned in the second half.
Hanover fans show a child's portrait with crosshairs
The reason for this: The visiting fans from Hanover showed three banners in their block with the following content: "CVC & Blackstone puppets of Saudi Arabia's sportswashing", "Consistent action in the face of personified threats of violence" and "Game interruption now".
The 96 supporters also hoisted three portraits, each with a crosshair - including Hanover boss Martin Kind.
The 96 majority shareholder plays a central role in the dispute between some of the organized fans and the DFL.
The managing director of the professional department in Hanover is said to have voted for the investor deal at the DFL general meeting in December, contrary to his club's instructions.
Martin Kind was treated with hostility by his own fans in the game against Hamburg.
© IMAGO / lobeca / localpic
Martin Kind with a meaningful reaction to crosshair posters
In a short statement after the game in the mixed zone, Kind said: “We know that,” before adding that “there will be reactions.”
“I've known this for 20 years, why should I react to it differently now?” the 79-year-old continued.
Kind also said that “the point has now come” where “you have to decide.
No matter what the newspapers write.
We will decide.”
96 sports director Marcus Mann, however, condemned the nature of the protest.
“Crosshair posters are an absurdity, that’s not possible, we don’t have to talk about it,” said the 39-year-old after the game on
Sky
, who warned in view of the violent protests across Germany: “The way it is at the moment can and does Of course it cannot continue.
The mood in the stadium threatens to change at some point.”
The DFL has been facing violent protests in the stadium for weeks due to an investor's planned entry into the Bundesliga.
The first division game between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg on Friday evening also had to be briefly interrupted.
My news
DFB Cup semi-finals drawn: pairings have been determined
Where and when will the European Championship 2024 take place?
All dates and stages at a glance
Kay Bernstein (†43): The cause of death has been determined - but the public prosecutor's office is not disclosing it
Klopp for Nagelsmann?
DFB Insider has a clear trend reading
The new life of Oliver Bierhofflesen
“Fatal consequences”: British government warns football fans against German beer at Euro 2024 read
It wasn't just Martin Kind who found himself in the crosshairs of the 96 fans.
© IMAGO/Justus Stegemann
Hannover wins thanks to a goal in 16 minutes of added time
In Hamburg, however, the game was about to be abandoned.
“The referee said he’s going out now and if something happens again, he’ll stop,” HSV club boss Jonas Boldt reported on
Sky
about the incidents after the break.
In the end the game was able to continue and Hannover won what was actually an entertaining game 4-3 thanks to the winning goal in 16 minutes of stoppage time.
96 coach Stefan Leitl still wasn't really happy.
“You always hear: football belongs to the fans, but football also belongs to the footballers,” said the 46-year-old after the game: “What happened today has no place in a stadium.
That's just annoying.
I will go along with raising my voice and protesting to the extent that it is permitted.
I distance myself from what happened today, we distance ourselves from it.” (
dpa/sid/kk
)