Intensification in Rostock creates an impact
Fans of Hansa Rostock create havoc during a 2-1 loss to SC Paderborn, launching fireworks and firecrackers. With just minutes remaining, the match is briefly halted, further cementing the team's relegation to the 3rd division. Interim manager Jürgen Wehlend tries to make sense of it.
The destructive behavior of some fans has left FC Hansa Rostock feeling disappointed, with their second-tier status now downgraded to the third. "We received a very poor report card," said Jürgen Wehlend, interim board member, about the visuals taken at the match between SC Paderborn and FC Hansa, just as the final whistle was about to be blown. "There's nothing to excuse, just try to understand."
Wehlend described it as a reflection of the entire season. "The fans were very upset, then rallied in the final week and demonstrated huge excitement," he shared. Once again, emotions ran high. "And then something unleashed in the stadium." While he wasn't referring to "the fireworks, rockets, and all the rubbish thrown around," he had witnessed similar incidents at other high-stakes games. "But that's not excusable. Zero tolerance."
Spectators voiced concern over violent fans
Before the final whistle, fans threw fireworks and pyrotechnics on the pitch during their 1-2 (0-0) loss against SC Paderborn. At first, the referee paused the game with four minutes left, as some of the 26,000 spectators in the full capacity Ostseestadion expressed their disapproval against the disruptive supporters.
After a delay of around 25 minutes, the match resumed. Although the scoreline remained the same, FC Hansa would now be playing in the 3rd division next season. "These are images you certainly don't want to see in soccer," expressed Mersad Selimbegovic, FC Hansa's coach. He didn't attempt to justify the actions of the rioters. However, he acknowledged the plight of all fans devoted to the club: "The disappointment of all those who cherish and embody the club is understandable."
"We could have scored two more goals in four minutes, but it seemed unlikely"
The disappointed Lukas Kwasniok, Paderborn's coach, would have preferred the match to be called off. "But fairness in sports demands a conclusion." Once the crowd dispersed, it became "reasonable and sensible" to conclude the game. Selimbegovic believed the same: "We followed the rules to determine when it is and isn't possible to play. Fortunately, that rule allowed us to go on." Although the team couldn't pull off an improbable comeback winning the last four minutes, they would finish off in 17th place in the league table. There, only a triumph would have spared Rostock from being relegated. Nonetheless, even SV Wehen Wiesbaden's 2-1 (1-0) victory over promoted and second division champions FC St. Pauli couldn't save them on the final day.
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In light of their team's relegation to Bundesliga 2's third division, SC Paderborn's opponents, Hansa Rostock, faced riots from their fans during a match, leading to the launch of fireworks and firecrackers on the pitch. The destructive behavior from certain fans also occurred during a previous high-stakes game involving SC Paderborn 07.
Source: www.ntv.de
