ÜOvershadowed by a near termination after fan riots, Bundesliga leaders 1. FC Union Berlin have ended their losing streak in the Europa League. With the first goal in the competition, the Köpenickers scored their first victory in the competition on Thursday at the pointless Swedish record champions Malmö FF. Sheraldo Becker scored the goal to make it 1-0 (0-0) outnumbered in the 68th minute.
“Aiming fireworks at people, pointing them at people, that just goes too far. That’s the bad thing: It’s no longer about the sport, about football,” emphasized Union coach Urs Fischer: “That a minority just keeps getting it right that you don’t talk about the game. Words fail me! I find that shameful.”
In terms of sport, the team of Fischer, who tested negative for the corona virus again in good time and traveled to the country, kept their chances of progressing in Group D after two 0-1 defeats. What is happening in the stands should also have an aftermath, especially a month ago Supporters of 1. FC Köln caused massive negative headlines at the game in the Conference League in Nice.
“My emotional state is ambivalent,” said Union President Dirk Zingerle on RTL+ after the final whistle.: “It’s unacceptable. Nothing and nobody has anything to do with the lawn. That annoys me, I’m pissed off.” Zingler on right after the final whistle.
“We will evaluate that with the scene, that’s very clear,” emphasized the Union boss: “In the end there are always few. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s the truth.” He’s not worried about repeated riots in the second leg in a week’s time at the An der Alten Försterei stadium: “We’re well prepared – and I’m looking forward to that.”
Restart under probation
In Malmö, however, it was initially unclear by whom the pyrotechnic objects and fireworks had been ignited and thrown. “Both camps threw pyrotechnics onto the field,” said the Unioner, whose head of communications, after the international announcements before the game continued, also talked to the supporters of the Berliners again. Television images also showed that security forces brought supporters from the ranks who were not in the block of over 1,000 Union supporters.
It was clear that referee Halil Umut Meler from Turkey only started again on probation after the interruption in the 57th minute. If objects were thrown from the ranks into the interior again, the game would be stopped immediately, it said. Becker gestured accordingly when a flare burned again in the stands after his celebrated goal.
Not many had suspected that the Unioners would score in the situation. The Berliners suffered a serious setback just before the break when Andras Schäfer saw the red card. The entire Union team had gathered in half of the Swedes, then Schäfer stumbled the ball and involuntarily played it with his heel in the direction of his own goal.
Malmo’s captain Anders Christiansen sprinted in between, Schäfer held his jersey and Christiansen fell. The referee showed the red card: Schäfer was the last man to clearly thwart a goal chance.
Trainer Fischer, who had tested positive for the corona virus on Sunday and was only able to come back on Thursday morning after another negative test, leaned back in his trainer’s chair without much facial emotion. Little did he know that the game would take such a turn ten minutes after the restart.
