According to Bild, serious clashes broke out between Mannheim and Kaiserslautern in the Palatinate derby of the DFB-Pokal, subsequently causing massive unrest.

In the match, which Kaiserslautern ultimately won 1-0 after extra time, players from both teams clashed and widespread riots broke out among fans in the stands, even forcing a temporary suspension of the match. Mounted police entered the stadium to restore order.

During the match, Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter got into confrontations with several Mannheim players, after which objects were thrown at Ritter from the main stand. In response, Kaiserslautern fans in their section launched fireworks toward the main stand. Mannheim fans then attempted to invade the pitch, forcing referee Robert Schröder to suspend the match, and police immediately moved in.

According to preliminary police statistics, the riot resulted in 35 police officers injured and several people temporarily detained. Additionally, 85 people received medical treatment in total, with 8 of them hospitalized for further care. However, a police spokesman stated that current information indicates most of the injured sustained only minor injuries.

After the match, both sides discussed the cause of the unrest.

Mannheim Sporting Director: Kaiserslautern Fans' Fireworks Were the Trigger

Matthias Schupp, sporting director of Mannheim, pointed to Kaiserslautern fans as the primary reason for the match suspension during an interview with Sky Sports.

Schupp stated: "I deeply regret the final riot. Indeed, after the conflict in that corner near the sideline, we tried to defuse the situation. Then we stepped back, and I believe it was the Kaiserslautern fan section that launched fireworks toward our main stand. I believe that's what caused the match to be suspended."

Presenter Patrick Wasserziehr then directly asked if this meant Kaiserslautern fans were responsible for escalating events?

Schupp replied: "From my understanding, it was the fan section that launched fireworks toward the main stand."

However, Schupp also acknowledged that Mannheim fans had issues. He stated he also noticed objects being thrown from the Mannheim fan area, but believed some of Kaiserslautern captain Ritter's earlier actions were also provocative.

Mannheim Officials: Ritter's Behavior Was Provocative

Schupp explained: "My observation was that at that moment three yellow cards were issued, one of which went to Ritter. When Ritter returned to the bench, he acted provocatively and expressed his emotions in his own way."

He also emphasized: "Of course, this doesn't justify throwing glasses. But I believe his behavior was genuinely very provocative."

When the journalist further pointed out that some Mannheim fans also ran onto the pitch, Schupp acknowledged that such behavior was completely unacceptable.

"Yes, this absolutely should not happen; these things cannot happen in the stadium," Schupp said.

However, he then again mentioned Ritter: "But as the match neared its end, Ritter deliberately wasted time during every corner kick and continued to provoke. Ultimately we lost 0-1, but the provocative behavior of player number 7 at that moment should not have occurred."

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

In comparison to Mannheim, Kaiserslautern's tone was relatively more measured.

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

Hengen also expressed gratitude to police: "I can only praise the police; they arrived very quickly and successfully brought the situation back under control. Honestly, I didn't think the match would be able to continue."

Regarding the on-field action, Hengen believed both teams played a generally fair derby.

Kaiserslautern coach Torsten Lieberknecht expressed a similar view. He said in an interview: "It's regrettable because both teams played well on the pitch and had a fair contest. Although there were some heated 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.

When asked about Schupp's remarks, Ritter said: "It doesn't concern me. Everyone has the right to express their opinion. If we had lost the match, I could have said more."

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

"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 Atmosphere Was Incredible, Other Matters Need Analysis

Mannheim captain Leart Klünter appeared relatively unfazed by the riot during an interview.

He said: "It was a very special night; the atmosphere was fantastic. Our fans really pushed everything to the maximum."

When journalists further asked for his views on the violent clashes, Klünter said: "I'm talking about the match itself. When the match was ongoing, everything was fantastic. Other matters need to be analyzed afterward."

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

Kaiserslautern player Sami Sahin said that players paid little 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 that time. Later, there were some conflicts off the pitch near the sideline; things happened very quickly, and we were rapidly asked to get back on the pitch."

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

"Players don't think too much about these things. This was a derby that hadn't been played in a long time, and sometimes emotions can run high. But ultimately we're very happy to have won the match."

This heated DFB-Pokal derby ultimately ended with Kaiserslautern defeating Mannheim 1-0 after extra time. However, compared to the match result, the off-pitch riot clearly became the major talking point after the game. Both sides currently disagree on what triggered the incident, and the 35 injured police officers, 85 people receiving medical treatment, and mounted police entering the stadium to restore order ensure that this match will become another controversial derby in DFB-Pokal history.

Tradotto dall'IA.

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