Raucous Match in Hannover Block
In a game that had its ups and downs, Hannover 96 managed to draw against relegated Hertha BSC after a disappointing first half.
Niederlechner put Berlin ahead in the 29th minute. Klemens made it 2-0 for Hertha just before half time. However, Hannover fought back with two goals in the second half, from Nielsen in the 67th minute and Voglsammer in the 80th minute.
Controversy Before Kickoff
Before the game, the fans of both teams showed their discontent towards the police's actions during their previous encounter in Hannover's visit to St. Pauli (0-0). Fans in the Hannover block protested with banners such as "Verdict: cops are criminals in uniform & enemy number 1", while Hertha fans displayed a poster after 35 minutes that read, "Into the block for mediation? Nothing but aggression in your head". Hannover fans chanted "All cops are pigs."
In the northern derby at St. Pauli, there were clashes with the Hamburg police in the Hannover block, and they used pepper spray against the supporters. There was also a "bull-hating" poster in the Hertha block.
Results Crisis in Hannover
Despite facing relegated Hertha BSC, Hannover has only won one of its last four games. Their poor performance in the 2nd league under coach Stefan Leitl has put them in a significant results crisis and has made promotion seem unlikely. On the other hand, Hertha missed out on the top spot due to the draw, emphasizing the importance of every match in Bundesliga 2.
While there is no mention of a scandalous poster during the match between Hannover 96 and Hertha BSC in the provided sources, incidents of racism and controversy in German football, such as the 2005 FC Energie Cottbus banner controversy, highlight the ongoing issues of racism and xenophobia in the sport. These tensions can contribute to the tension between fan bases and can color the atmosphere of a game, making it a complex and multifaceted event.
