Violence in Paderborn
Several injured people and a damaged stadium: Police and SC Paderborn condemn violent riots by fans
Fans at the game between SC Paderborn and Hansa Rostock set off pyrotechnics in the stands
© David Inderlied / DPA
Escalation in Paderborn: After the game against Hansa Rostock, the fans went crazy. Several people are injured and one has to go to the hospital. Now the police and footballers are commenting on the incident.
After the riots by Hansa fans during Rostock’s 3-0 defeat at SC Paderborn on Friday evening, the host club and the police Paderborn took a position on the incidents. “With a high level of criminal energy, a few away fans crossed borders, risked injuries to uninvolved stadium visitors as well as massive damage to property and a game being abandoned,” it said in a joint statement. Hansa sports director Kristian Walter distanced himself “completely” from the riots on behalf of the club immediately after the game.
The game in the 2nd Bundesliga was interrupted twice by referee Wolfgang Haslberger for several minutes because pyrotechnics were set off in the away area. According to the police, around 150 violent guest fans left the standing room area during the game and threw various objects at security service employees and police officers.
Violent riots with injuries in Paderborn
“A total of eight security service employees and twelve police officers suffered injuries, one policewoman had to be treated in a Paderborn hospital for a cut. The property damage caused massive damage to the guest area of the stadium,” the SCP and police statement continued.
Shortly before the end of the game, a Hansa fan climbed over a fence into the seating area and “seriously injured a neutral spectator in the head. The man had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance,” according to the police and club. After the game ended, there were no further riots in the stadium area.
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Hansa goalkeeper Markus Kolke, who was sent off with a red card, told the pay-TV broadcaster Sky: “Rocket fire really doesn’t have to happen. So much can happen. I’m happy that no one was hit.”
Because of the possible investor entry into the German Football League (DFL), the police and SC Paderborn had expected fan protests during the game. “However, the events in the SCP07 stadium go far beyond what could be expected,” said the joint statement.