Several injured and a damaged stadium: Police and SC Paderborn condemn violent riots by fans

Escalation in Paderborn: fans go berserk after the match against Hansa Rostock. Several people are injured, one has to go to hospital. Now the police and footballers are speaking out about the incident.

, and Anne Legman

2023 December 16 . 10:04 AM

2 min read

Fans set off pyrotechnics in the stands at the SC Paderborn v Hansa Rostock match.aussiedlerbote.de

Violence in Paderborn - Several injured and a damaged stadium: Police and SC Paderborn condemn violent riots by fans

Following the rioting by Hansa fans during Rostock's 3-0 defeat at SC Paderborn on Friday evening, the host club and the Paderborn police have commented on the incidents. "With a high level of criminal energy, a small number of visiting fans crossed the line, causing injuries to uninvolved stadium visitors and massive damage to property and causing the match to be abandoned," they said in a joint statement. Hansa sporting director Kristian Walter distanced himself "completely" from the riots on behalf of the club immediately after the match.

The 2nd Bundesliga match was interrupted twice for several minutes by referee Wolfgang Haslberger because pyrotechnics were set off in the visitors' area. According to police reports, around 150 violent visiting fans left the standing area during the match and threw various objects at stewards and police officers.

Violent riots with injuries in Paderborn

"A total of eight stewards and twelve police officers suffered injuries, one policewoman had to be treated for a cut in a Paderborn hospital. Massive damage was caused in the guest area of the stadium as a result of the damage to property," continued the SCP and police statement.

Shortly before the end of the match, a Hansa fan climbed over a fence into the seating area and "seriously injured a neutral spectator on the head. The man had to be taken to hospital by ambulance," said the police and club. After the end of the match, there was no further rioting in the stadium area.

Protests over investors joining the DFL

Hansa goalkeeper Markus Kolke, who was sent off with a red card, told the pay-TV channel Sky: "It really doesn't have to be rocket fire. So much can happen. I'm happy that nobody was hit."

The police and SC Paderborn had expected fan protests during the match due to the possible entry of investors into the German Football League (DFL). "However, the events at the SCP07 stadium went far beyond what was to be expected," the joint statement said.