Union Berlin Likely to Appeal

The DFB Sports Court has ruled that the interrupted Bundesliga match between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum will be recorded as a 2-0 victory for Bochum.

Author

Larry Ndjock
January 09, 2025

What Happened

  • The Incident:

    • In stoppage time (90+2), a lighter was thrown from the Union Berlin stands, striking Patrick Drewes on the head.

    • Drewes couldn’t continue, and Bochum had already used all their substitutes.

  • Immediate Consequences:

    • The match was paused for 28 minutes.

    • Bochum initially refused to continue but eventually agreed, under protest, to finish the game with a striker in goal.

    • Both teams played the remainder without attempting to score.

The Court’s Decision

The DFB Sports Court, led by Stephan Oberholz, overturned the 1-1 result and awarded a 2-0 victory to Bochum.

Reasons for the Ruling:

  • Player Safety: Drewes’ injury was deemed serious, and team doctors followed DFL protocols for head injuries.

  • No Foul Play: The court found no evidence that Bochum exaggerated the situation or staged a protest.

  • Competition Integrity: “Awarding a result is a last resort, but the circumstances left no other option,” Oberholz explained.

Reactions

Group

Response

Union Berlin

Expected to appeal the decision within the next seven days.

DFB Control Committee

Criticized the "non-aggression pact" as anti-competitive: “Such behavior endangers fair play.”

Referee Martin Petersen

Faced criticism for not ending the game outright, but DFB referee instructor Lutz Wagner defended his handling.

DFB Launches Additional Investigation Against Union Berlin

The DFB Control Committee has also launched a separate investigation into Union Berlin regarding the lighter-throwing incident. Although Union identified the perpetrator immediately, they were required to submit a formal statement. A penalty for the club has yet to be determined.

Impact of the Ruling

If the ruling stands, Bochum would secure their first away victory of the season by administrative decision. The two additional points would move Bochum closer to 17th-placed Kiel and reduce the gap to 16th-place Heidenheim (relegation playoff spot) to just two points. Meanwhile, Union Berlin’s lead over Heidenheim would shrink to six points.