Demotion to a lower division or league - Düsseldorf's stolen memories at the penalty spot
Hans E. Lorenz recollects the chaotic scenes of the purloined penalty spot. In the final minutes of the Bundesliga relegation playoff between Fortuna Düsseldorf and Hertha BSC, there were merely two minutes remaining in the match when the soccer field rapidly transformed into a hidden object due to a pitch chaos.
Tom Bartels, an ARD reporter, remarked, "Now fans are on the pitch. It's not over yet, people. This is absolute insanity here. Speechless." Lorenz, as the presiding judge of the DFB sports court, would later hear how this "insanity" at the end of the 2:2 would be adjudicated.
"The memories are still quite lucid, because that was a uniquely peculiar process," the 73-year-old explained to the German Press Agency. When a mob of Düsseldorf fans, already celebrating promotion prior to the end, invaded the pitch, it was uncertain if the match could be completed. A certain ardent admirer even purloined the penalty spot and was subsequently prohibited from entering the stadium. This was the last Bundesliga relegation match in Düsseldorf until the home game against VfL Bochum on Monday (8.30 pm/Sat.1 and Sky).
After a protracted pause, the match concluded normally. Following that, there were vexing incidents in the dressing room corridor, with referee Wolfgang Stark being attacked by Hertha player Lewan Kobiaswili. Kobiaswili was suspended for seven and a half months - "the longest ban in my tenure," as Lorenz notes.
Appeals from Hertha BSC
"The memories are clear to me, since that was a truly unusual procedure," Lorenz said. Initially, Hertha BSC lodged an appeal against the decision. They aired their case over two days as it took seven hours to gather evidence. They heard the case on Friday and unveiled the verdict on Monday. Lorenz alluded to the factual decision rendered by referee Stark. Yet once more, Hertha appealed to the federal court, but were denied there.
Lorenz recollected a humorous story that occurred a year later. By that time, Düsseldorf had returned to the second tier and Hertha had rejoined the Bundesliga. Lorenz met Michael Preetz at the German Champions League final in London. "I congratulated him," said the judge about their conversation. Preetz simply responded, "But you won't become an honorary member of our club."
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Source: www.stern.de