A game was abandoned in the German Bundesliga on Friday evening. The game between VfL Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach was first interrupted and finally abandoned in the 68th minute following assistant referee Christian Gittelmann threw a cup on the back of the head. At that point, Gladbach were 2-0 ahead, also thanks to an assist from Stefan Lainer.
Lainer back in the starting XI
The ÖFB team defender had prepared Breel Embolo’s second goal (61st) with a pass to the middle in front of 25,000 spectators. Alassane Plea (55th) scored the first goal. In contrast to the 2-0 win at home once morest Hertha BSC, Lainer was once more in the starting lineup this time. On the coaching bench, assistant Christian Peintinger replaced Adi Hütter, who was absent due to a positive coronavirus test. Bochum also had to do without head coach Thomas Reis for this reason.
Gladbach will probably get the win at the “green table” and would thus pass Bochum by one point in eleventh place and would have taken a big step towards staying up in the league. The cup had come from a long side of the stands, where mainly Bochum fans were.
Bochum sports director apologizes
“First of all, we can only apologize in all formalities for the incident,” said Bochum’s sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz, describing the incident as “unacceptable”. He wished Gittelmann a speedy recovery and regretted what had happened. “Of course it’s very, very unfortunate: It’s the first time that we can play in front of 25,000 spectators once more and the game doesn’t have a sporting outcome,” said the sporting director.
Gladbach’s sports director Roland Virkus might only agree: “It doesn’t make a good picture, you have to say that very clearly. That’s not right. It’s just annoying.”