According to Bild, a serious confrontation erupted between Mannheim and Kaiserslautern in their Palatinate derby DFB-Pokal match, which subsequently sparked major rioting.

In the match that Kaiserslautern ultimately won 1-0 in extra time, players from both teams clashed on the pitch, and a massive riot broke out among fans in the stands, forcing the referee to temporarily suspend the match. Mounted police entered the field to restore order.

During the match, Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter argued with several Mannheim players, and objects were subsequently thrown at Ritter from the main stand. In response, Kaiserslautern fans in the stands fired flares toward the main stand. Mannheim fans then attempted to storm the pitch, and referee Robert Schröder was forced to pause the match, with police immediately entering the field.

According to preliminary statistics released by police, the rioting resulted in 35 police officers injured, and several people were detained. Additionally, a total of 85 people received medical treatment, with 8 requiring hospitalization. However, a police spokesman noted that current information suggests most treated individuals sustained only minor injuries.

After the match, both sides disputed the cause of the rioting.

Mannheim Sports Director: Kaiserslautern Fans' Flares Were the Cause

Mannheim sports director Matthias Schöber, in an interview with Sky Sport, blamed Kaiserslautern fans as the primary cause of the match suspension.

Schöber said: "I deeply regret the rioting that ultimately occurred. In fact, after the confrontation in the corner near the touchline, we tried to defuse the situation. We moved on, and I believe that's when the Kaiserslautern fan section fired flares toward our main stand. I think that's what caused the match to be suspended."

Presenter Patrick Wasserziehr then directly asked whether this meant Kaiserslautern fans bore responsibility for escalating the situation.

Schöber replied: "From what I understand, it was the fan stand that fired flares toward the main stand."

However, Schöber also acknowledged that Mannheim fans had issues too. He noted that objects were also thrown from the Mannheim fan section, but he believed some of Kaiserslautern captain Ritter's earlier actions were also provocative.

Mannheim Management: Ritter's Behavior Was Provocative

Schöber explained: "I observed three yellow cards being issued, one of which went to Ritter. When Ritter returned to the bench, he acted provocatively and expressed himself in his own way."

He also emphasized: "Of course, this doesn't excuse throwing cups. But I think his behavior was genuinely very provocative."

When the reporter pressed further about some Mannheim fans also storming the pitch, Schöber acknowledged such behavior was completely unacceptable.

"Yes, this absolutely should not have happened. Such things cannot happen in a stadium," Schöber said.

However, he then brought up Ritter again: "But near the end of the match, Ritter deliberately time-wasted on every corner kick and constantly provoked. Ultimately, we lost 0-1, but the provocative behavior of number 7 at that moment also should not have occurred."

Kaiserslautern CEO: Both Sides Bear Responsibility, This Damages Football's Image

Compared to Mannheim, Kaiserslautern's response was relatively restrained.

Kaiserslautern CEO Thomas Hengen stated after the match: "Many people were provocative. Everything that happened in the stands was very bad, and both sides bear responsibility. A derby like this should not escalate like this—it damages not only us but football's image."

Hengen also praised the police: "I can only commend the police for arriving so quickly on scene and successfully controlling the situation. I don't think the match could have continued."

Regarding the on-pitch action, Hengen believed both sides played a fair derby overall.

Kaiserslautern coach Torsten Lieberknecht shared a similar view. He said in an interview: "It's unfortunate, because both teams played well on the pitch and competed fairly. Although there were some emotional moments in the match, everything was under control."

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

Ritter Responds to Criticism: Everyone Has the Right to Their Opinion

Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter dismissed Mannheim's allegations against him.

When asked about Schöber's remarks, Ritter said: "It doesn't matter to me. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. If we had lost the match, I probably would have said more."

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

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

Mannheim Captain: The Fan Atmosphere Was Intense, Other Matters Need Analysis

Mannheim captain L.Klünter appeared not to comment much on the rioting during the match in an interview.

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

When the reporter pressed him further about his view on the violent conflict, L.Klünter said: "I'm talking about the match itself. When the match was being played, everything was great. Other matters need to be analyzed afterward."

Kaiserslautern Player: We Hardly Noticed What Was Happening Outside the Pitch

Kaiserslautern player Semih Sahin stated that players were largely unaware of the rioting outside the pitch during the match.

He said: "To be honest, I didn't see much because we were completely focused on the match at that moment. Later, some confrontations broke out on the sideline outside the pitch, everything happened very quickly, and we were soon asked to return to the field."

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

"The players don't really think much about these things. This is a derby that hasn't been played in a long time, and sometimes emotions can run very high. But ultimately, we're just happy to have won the match."

This tense DFB-Pokal derby ultimately ended with Kaiserslautern defeating Mannheim 1-0 in extra time. However, compared to the match result, the off-pitch rioting clearly became the biggest talking point after the game. Both sides currently disagree about what caused the incident, and with 35 police officers injured, 85 people receiving medical treatment, and mounted police entering the field to maintain order, this derby has become another controversial chapter in DFB-Pokal history.

Website AF đã ra mắt! Xem tin tức đầy đủ, bình luận, chi tiết trận đấu và thống kê trên máy tính. Truy cập: www.allfootballapp.com