Fans' Actions in Bochum's Eintracht Game Sparks Apology: "We Failed, We Must Address This"
- Pending Decision on Proposed Measure by the Commission
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In an aftermath of the Eintracht Frankfurt vs VfL Bochum game (3:1), which started 50 minutes late, SGE board member Philipp Reschke admits that consequences will follow. "We have to take our fans serious," Reschke declares. The goal is to refrain from such occurrences in the future. "This ends up being a result none of us are happy about, as it doesn't deserve to happen in the first place. We'll have to hold talks regarding this."
Reschke also referenced the departure of several ultras from the fan block. "Collaboration is key to uncovering better alternatives," Reschke added on DAZN. "We owe apologies to VfL Bochum and everyone else affected."
The initial reluctance of Eintracht fans to take down a banner from the barrier obstructing an escape route is of concern. "We were briefly briefed that escape routes and emergency exits shouldn't be blocked with banners, but it happened anyway. Then heated disagreements erupted, which wouldn't have happened. This ought not to recur since the circumstances were clear, and it's non-negotiable," Reschke explains.
Eventually, the banners were removed following “heated debates.” The game was scheduled to start at 3:30PM but was delayed until 4:20PM. As a result, many visiting supporters left the visiting block, and the ultras ceased their backing.
Too much fan power?
This isn't initial for Bochum. In January 2024, the game against VfB Stuttgart was on the verge of being abandoned due to similar circumstances. In September 2023, the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach was delayed by ten minutes. "The discussion that followed the Stuttgart game is well-known: fan influence and such. We should avoid overreacting," advises Reschke.
Backstory:
This incident has highlighted significant safety and fan influence concerns in Bochum's football games.
- The fans from Eintracht Frankfurt blocked emergency exits with banners, leading to a 50-minute delay in the kick-off. A similar incident happened in January 2024.
- Following the removal of the banners, some fans left the stadium in protest, and heated disagreements ensued. The incident sparked discussions about fan influence in football.
Moving Forward:
Consequences:
- Safety Risks: The blocking of emergency exits poses serious safety risks for spectators.
- Match Delays: The incidents cause delays in matches, affecting the overall experience for fans and potentially the teams' performance.
Solutions:
- Club and Fan Engagement: Clubs may need to improve communication with fan groups to avoid future occurrences.
- Stadium Design: Modernizing stadium designs to ensure that emergency exits are inaccessible from the pitch could help.
- Fan Education: Educating fans on the importance of safety and consequences of their actions could reduce future disruptions.
- As stated by Philipp Reschke, the Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of measures regarding the fans' actions of blocking emergency exits during Eintracht Frankfurt's game against VfL Bochum in Frankfurt.
- Despite the concerns and safety risks posed by blocking emergency exits, similar incidents have previously occurred, such as the near abandonment of Bochum's game against VfB Stuttgart in January 2024 and a ten-minute delay in the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach in September 2023.
- In order to prevent such incidents from happening again, potential solutions include increased club and fan engagement, modernizing stadium designs to secure emergency exit accessibility from the pitch, and educating fans about the importance of safety and the consequences of their actions.
