The cup final will lead to steep consequences for FCK.
In the intense final match of the DFB-Pokal, 1. FC Kaiserslautern almost emerged victorious against Bayer Leverkusen, the German champions. Unfortunately for the second-division team, their supporters' exuberant behavior would lead to steep fines. The crowd wowed the spectators with a fantastic choreography and frequent use of pyrotechnics during the game, even in the opposing team's section.
After the game, FCK's executive manager, Thomas Hengen, expressed concern about the potential consequences. "If the game is frequently interrupted, fines will be larger. I hope they won't be too heavy," he said after their 0:1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday night at the sold-out Olympiastadion in Berlin.
During the match, referee Bastian Dankert stopped play due to thick smoke from numerous fireworks lighting up the arena. Impressively, a massive Red Devil mascot spanned almost the entire stadium before the start of the game. However, the supporters of FCK then continued detonating fireworks almost constantly, followed by more firecrackers and fireworks explosions. Even Bayer Leverkusen's fans participated in the pyrotechnics.
Hengen, the players, and coach Friedhelm Funkel all commended the passion of their fans, but Funkel also voiced concerns about the misbehavior of some FCK supporters: "That's not a good thing at all. It should be better coordinated with the club in the future."
Hengen didn't want to discuss the DFB's criticism regarding the control of the situation. "We know that from our own experience. It's incredibly challenging. You always find ways," he noted. Ultimately, he believes the rules need to be better enforced: "This can't go on like this." The DFB's sports court has issued fines for illicit pyrotechnics at games in the 1. and 2. League several times throughout last season.
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Source: www.ntv.de
