relegation
Riots in debacle: Armina Bielefeld helpless
Bielefeld fans had thrown flares onto the field in Wiesbaden. photo
© Jörg Halisch/dpa
The inglorious incidents in the relegation first leg in Wiesbaden will have an aftermath for second division Arminia Bielefeld. First, however, precautions must be taken for the second leg.
The helplessness in dealing with the violence of their own fans was just as great for Arminia Bielefeld after the final whistle as before the sporting debacle in the 0: 4 debacle in the relegation first leg against SV Wehen Wiesbaden.
Coach Uwe Koschinat and club idol Fabian Klos refrained from any criticism of the scandalous performance of the Arminia supporters, which almost provoked a game being abandoned, and blamed it on the team.
Bielefeld coach: The team failed across the board
“Should I be mad at the fans? I can’t,” said Klos with tears in his eyes. “It’s about the image that the club gives. The fans react to what this so-called team has put on the pitch. I can’t put myself in front of this team.”
Koschinat also expressed understanding for the violent reactions. These were “not in order”. “But we gave the reason. People no longer have the tolerance limit to endure what we offered today or last week.” As on the last matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga in the 4-0 loss in Magdeburg, his team “failed across the board”.
Because of the massive riots, referee Benjamin Brand sent both teams into the cabins shortly before the end. The game was suspended for 21 minutes after Bielefeld supporters repeatedly fired pyrotechnics onto the pitch and some even tried to storm the pitch.
“A firecracker hit two meters next to me. It was extremely dangerous. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was scared,” said Wehen Wiesbaden striker Benedict Hollerbach on the scandalous incidents. It only continued when the police marched up in front of the guest fan block. “The referee said if another firecracker explodes, he will stop the game,” Klos later reported.
Armina announces dialogue with the fans
The Arminia is now threatened with a drastic punishment by the German Football Association. Due to the short time, the Bielefeld team need not fear any consequences for the second leg on Tuesday. That is in the spirit of Wehen Wiesbaden coach Markus Kauczinski. “I’m not interested in an empty stadium. I don’t want a ghost game,” said the 53-year-old. However, he called on those responsible for East Westphalia to work with the fans to ensure that the game was carried out safely.
Bielefeld’s managing director Christoph Wortmann immediately announced a dialogue with the supporters. “We will talk to the representatives of the fans and hope that we can manage a game in Bielefeld in which we can create a positive atmosphere. We will try everything that Arminia Bielefeld doesn’t show such a face on and off the pitch again,” said the 46-year-old.
He sharply criticized the behavior of the fans. “With all the frustration and disappointment that I can understand, what happened here goes too far. We’re also talking about possible physical injuries,” said Wortmann. But he didn’t want to acquit the professionals of complicity in the inglorious events either: “I can only apologize to the fans for the team’s performance. You can’t approach a game like that.”