According to Bild, a serious conflict erupted between Mannheim and Kaiserslautern in the Palatinate Derby of the DFB-Pokal, which subsequently caused massive unrest.

In the match, which Kaiserslautern won 1-0 after extra time, players from both sides clashed on the pitch, and large-scale unrest broke out among fans in the stands, even forcing a temporary suspension of the match, with mounted police entering the stadium to maintain order.

During the match, Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter argued with several Mannheim players, and then objects were thrown at Ritter from the main stand. In response, Kaiserslautern fans in the stands fired pyrotechnics toward the main stand. Mannheim fans then attempted to invade the pitch, forcing referee Robert Schröder to suspend the match, and police immediately entered the field.

According to preliminary statistics released by police, the unrest resulted in 35 police officers injured, and several people were temporarily detained. Additionally, a total of 85 people received medical treatment, with 8 of them being sent to the hospital for further treatment. However, a police spokesman stated that current information indicates that most of those treated suffered only minor injuries.

After the match, both sides debated what caused the unrest.

Mannheim Sporting Director: Kaiserslautern Fans' Pyrotechnics Were the Spark

Mannheim Sporting Director Matthias Schober said in an interview with Sky Sport that Kaiserslautern fans were the primary reason for the match suspension.

Schober stated: "I deeply regret the resulting unrest. Actually, after the conflict broke out in that corner area on the sideline, we tried to de-escalate the situation. We approached it, and then I believe it was the Kaiserslautern fan section that fired pyrotechnics toward our main stand. I think that's what led to the match suspension."

Presenter Patrick Wasserziehr then directly asked if this meant Kaiserslautern fans were responsible for escalating the situation.

Schober replied: "From my understanding, it was the fan stand that fired pyrotechnics toward the main stand."

However, Schober also acknowledged that Mannheim fans also had their issues. He noted that objects were thrown from the Mannheim fan area as well, but he believed some of Kaiserslautern captain Ritter's earlier actions were also provocative.

Mannheim Management: Ritter's Behavior Was Provocative

Schober explained: "My observation was that there were 3 yellow cards, one of which was given to Ritter. When Ritter returned to the bench, he was provocative and vented his emotions in his own way."

He also emphasized: "That, of course, does not excuse the throwing of cups. But I think his behavior was really very provocative."

When the reporter further pointed out that some Mannheim fans also invaded the pitch, Schober admitted that such behavior was completely unacceptable.

"Yes, that absolutely should not happen; such things cannot occur in the stadium," Schober said.

However, he then mentioned Ritter again: "But near the end of the match, Ritter deliberately wasted time on every corner kick and continued to provoke. In the end, we lost 0-1, but the provocative behavior of player number 7 at that moment also should not have happened."

Kaiserslautern CEO: Both Sides Are Responsible, This Damages Football's Image

In comparison with Mannheim, Kaiserslautern's stance was relatively restrained.

Kaiserslautern CEO Thomas Hengen said after the match: "Many people were being provocative. What happened in the stands was very bad, and both sides are responsible. A derby like this should not end this way; it not only harms us, but also damages football's image."

Hengen also expressed gratitude to the police: "I can only praise the police; they arrived at the scene very quickly and successfully controlled the situation. I did not expect the match to be able to continue."

Regarding the on-pitch match, Hengen believed both sides generally played a fair derby.

Kaiserslautern coach Torsten Lieberknecht expressed similar views. He said in an interview: "It's unfortunate because both teams played well on the pitch and had a fair contest. Although there were some emotional moments in the match, they were all within a manageable range."

He believed both teams deserved to win and emphasized that everyone should focus more on the football itself rather than what happened off the pitch.

Ritter Responds to Controversy: Everyone Has the Right to Express Their Opinion

Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter paid little attention to Mannheim's accusations against him.

When asked about Schober's statements, Ritter said: "I don't care. Everyone has the right to express their own opinion. If we had lost the match, I might have more to say."

Ritter also revealed that someone from the Mannheim bench said something to him at the time, but he didn't mind.

"But none of that matters to us; we won the match, and that's what's most important. We also hope to have a derby like this again someday in the future," Ritter said.

Mannheim Captain: The Fan Atmosphere Was Intense; Other Matters Need to Be Analyzed

Mannheim captain L. Klünter did not seem to react much to the unrest during the match when interviewed.

He said: "It was a very special evening, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Our fans really brought everything to a climax."

When the reporter asked him about his views on the violent confrontations, L. Klünter said: "I'm talking about the match itself. Everything was great during the match. Other matters need to be analyzed later."

Kaiserslautern Player: We Barely Noticed What Was Happening Off the Pitch

Kaiserslautern player Semih Sahin said that the players actually did not pay much attention to the unrest off the pitch during the match.

He said: "Honestly, I didn't see much, because we were completely focused on the match at the time. Later, some confrontations happened off the pitch near the sidelines, things developed very quickly, and we were quickly asked to return to the pitch."

Sahin said that for the players, the match was still primarily a football match.

"The players really don't think much about these things. It's a derby that hasn't been played in a long time, and sometimes emotions run high. But we are ultimately very happy that we won the match."

This explosive DFB-Pokal derby ended with Kaiserslautern's 1-0 victory over Mannheim after extra time. However, compared to the match result, the off-pitch unrest obviously became the main focus after the match. Both sides currently do not fully agree on the cause of the incident, and the 35 police officers injured, 85 people receiving medical treatment, and mounted police entering the stadium to maintain order also ensure that this match will be another controversial derby in DFB-Pokal history.

Traduzido por IA.

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