Hitler salute, vertebral fracture, violence
Pyro battle overshadows Frankfurt’s triumph
09/14/2022 1:51 p.m
Eintracht Frankfurt wins a game in the Champions League for the first time. But the 1-0 win at Olympique Marseille is only a minor matter in the end. A week after the riots during the game between Nice and Cologne, brutal clashes erupted again. After the pyro inferno, the club is threatened with ghost games.
German spectators show the Hitler salute, the fan camps shoot at each other with pyro rockets and firecrackers – a supporter is seriously injured: the horrific images from the ranks were like a heavy thunderstorm over Eintracht Frankfurt’s historic success in the Champions League. “It’s very strange the level of aggressiveness and hatred we faced,” complained SGE board member Philipp Reschke.
After a sportingly successful evening at Olympique Marseille, it’s all about “that we all come home healthy and safe,” he explained. However, it quickly became clear after the final whistle that this would not succeed. A Eintracht fan from Friedrichsdorf was hit in the neck by a rocket during the pyro inferno. According to information from “Hessischer Rundfunk” (HR), he broke three ribs and a cervical vertebra when he fell down the stairs. “He is stable and out of danger,” said Reschke.
The hours of the “state of emergency” (Reschke) will certainly have legal consequences. Like Marseille, Eintracht is currently on probation in Europe. After the pitch attack against West Ham in May, UEFA had suspended a ghost home game for two years. “I’m more afraid of a penalty for an away game,” said Reschke: “But I can’t rule out that the probation for a home game will take effect.”
“Not thought possible”
In any case, Oliver Glasner showed “zero understanding” for the riots: “A few chaotic people abuse football to live out their violent aggression,” complained the coach. The situation had deteriorated well before the high-risk game in the city. On Monday evening, eight people had already been arrested after a fight, according to the local prefecture, 17 other people were arrested on Tuesday.
Objects were thrown at Eintracht fans’ buses in front of the stadium, and things escalated in the Velodrome. In addition to the mutual rocket fire, German supporters showed the Hitler salute. Eintracht distanced itself “very clearly” from the incident that can be seen on a video circulating on the Internet. In this regard, he “cannot imagine that there is a club that has a clearer stance,” emphasized Reschke.
Overall, the board of directors for fan support, security and law saw “significantly more” perpetrators on the part of Marseille. He estimates a ratio of 15:1. “That’s not an excuse and shouldn’t protect anyone who reacted to it with the same means,” emphasized Reschke: “It was a day that we have never experienced in this form and that we would not have thought possible. “
From a purely sporting point of view, the day was historic. Finally, thanks to a goal by Jesper Lindström (43rd), the Europa League champion scored the first points ever in the premier class with the 1-0 (1-0) at the top French club. In view of the circumstances, the success speaks for “our composure”, said midfielder Djibril Sow.
It was possible to “hide everything else”, added Captain Sebastian Rode. In Group D, “everything is open” again. But it wouldn’t be surprising if the hunt for the round of 16 had to continue without their own fans.