Bundesliga game halted after linesman hit with glass full of beer
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Friday's Bundesliga game between St Pauli and Schalke 04 was called off with two minutes to go after a linesman was hit by a plastic glass full of beer.
Schalke were leading 2-0 when linesman Thorsten Schiffner was hit in the back of the head by the unexpected missile thrown from a section of the stands occupied by home fans.
"The linesman was then hit on the neck and we had no alternative but to abandon the match," Aytekin said.
"Lighters and coins were thrown at the match officials in both halves of the match."
The game turned ill-tempered after St Pauli were reduced to nine men after Jan-Philipp Kalla was given a second yellow card on 68 minutes and team-mate Fin Bartels earned a direct red in the 79th minute.
Just before the hosts had their first man sent off, they had a goal disallowed for being offside, which just might have prompted the fans to use that linesman for target practice.
"There is no explanation for this," said St Pauli coach Holger Stanislawski. "I can only apologize to the linesman.
"The referee made the right decision, this type of behaviour has no place on the football pitch. It's a catastrophe for the club."
There was no immediate decision from league officials about whether the result would stand, but St Pauli are facing a heavy fine and possibly a home game behind closed doors over the incident.
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| Referee Deniz Aytekin is shielded with umbrellas as he leaves the pitch Photo: Reuters |
Schalke were leading 2-0 when linesman Thorsten Schiffner was hit in the back of the head by the unexpected missile thrown from a section of the stands occupied by home fans.
Though the linesman was not hurt by the projectile beverage, referee Deniz Aytekin decided to abandon the match.
"The linesman was then hit on the neck and we had no alternative but to abandon the match," Aytekin said.
"Lighters and coins were thrown at the match officials in both halves of the match."
The game turned ill-tempered after St Pauli were reduced to nine men after Jan-Philipp Kalla was given a second yellow card on 68 minutes and team-mate Fin Bartels earned a direct red in the 79th minute.
Just before the hosts had their first man sent off, they had a goal disallowed for being offside, which just might have prompted the fans to use that linesman for target practice.
"There is no explanation for this," said St Pauli coach Holger Stanislawski. "I can only apologize to the linesman.
"The referee made the right decision, this type of behaviour has no place on the football pitch. It's a catastrophe for the club."
There was no immediate decision from league officials about whether the result would stand, but St Pauli are facing a heavy fine and possibly a home game behind closed doors over the incident.
Also see:
