The DFB ruled that the contentious match between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum, held on December 14, ended 2:0 in favor of Bochum due to an incident involving a lighter thrown at Bochum’s goalkeeper. Union’s President, Dirk Zingler, condemned the decision as scandalous and plans to appeal, arguing that attributing fan behavior to the club is unjust. The ruling significantly affects Bochum’s position in the relegation battle, with only two points separating them from 1. FC Heidenheim.
DFB’s Controversial Ruling on Union Berlin vs. VfL Bochum Match
Nearly a month after the contentious match held in Köpenick, the DFB has decided to award the game between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum to the Revier club. Union’s President, Dirk Zingler, has labeled this decision as a scandal—though he is not referring to the incident involving the lighter.
Union Berlin’s Response to the Ruling
The sentiment at 1. FC Union Berlin is one of betrayal. Zingler stated, “We will therefore exhaust all legal means available to us and appeal today’s ruling,” as he expressed the club’s displeasure over the DFB’s decision. He remarked, “The real unsportsmanlike scandal occurred after the event on the pitch and today in court.” The DFB Sports Court’s ruling retroactively deemed the match, which took place on December 14 at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei, to have ended 2:0 in favor of VfL Bochum. Zingler’s argumentation raises eyebrows, as it suggests a reversal of blame.
The incident that Zingler references, albeit indirectly, involves a lighter thrown from the Union fans’ section towards Bochum’s goalkeeper, Patrick Drewes, during stoppage time with the score tied at 1:1. Drewes later described the moment, stating, “That was already a hit that I noticed,” but after that, he felt disoriented. Bochum’s team doctor confirmed that Drewes exhibited symptoms that prevented him from continuing to play, raising concerns about potential head injuries.
According to Zingler, the actual “unsportsmanlike scandal” took place after the match and in the courtroom. Following Drewes’ injury, the referee decided to halt the game for approximately 30 minutes before resuming without him. With Bochum having already used their substitution quota, striker Philipp Hofmann had to step in as goalkeeper, leading to a lackluster conclusion where both teams merely exchanged passes.
The DFB found no evidence of conspiracy or acting on Bochum’s part. Chairman Stephan Oberholz stated, “We could not identify any aspects of a conspiracy or a farce,” asserting that Drewes was indeed injured by the lighter thrown from the stands, placing responsibility on Union Berlin.
Zingler argues against this attribution of blame, claiming it is “bad enough that people repeatedly throw objects on stages or pitches,” but he believes it is even more egregious to exploit such incidents for advantage. He contends that Union has provided no evidence to support the notion that Drewes and Bochum orchestrated the incident to gain a favorable ruling.
In his statement, Zingler expressed concern that this ruling could negatively impact football as a whole, suggesting that the attribution of fan behavior to a club can be “questionable” and “often wrong.” He did not clarify why 1. FC Union should not bear responsibility for the actions of their fans in their own stadium, as the DFB has historically penalized clubs for fan misconduct.
As a result of the ruling, Bochum now finds themselves closer to their rivals in the relegation battle, with only two points separating them from 1. FC Heidenheim, who is currently in the relegation zone. This situation adds further complexity as the Bundesliga prepares to resume its season in the new year.