Violence erupts in Mannheim cup derby as 35 police injured
A chaotic Pokal-Derby in Mannheim turned violent on Freitagabend, leaving 85 Personen in need of medical Behandlung, eight of whom were taken to the Spital, and 35 Polizisten lightly injured, the Polizei said. The incident unfolded after a goalless 90 minutes of Spielzeit, with fans storming the Spielfeld and pyrotechnics lighting the night.
Attendance and atmosphere
According to Angaben des Veranstalters, roughly 23'500 Zuschauerinnen und Zuschauer filled the sold‑out Carl‑Benz‑Stadion, including about 3'500 Gästefans. Die Stimmung was described as heated, with Pyrotechnik ignited repeatedly throughout the match. Fans in both stands were seen waving flares, adding to the volatile atmosphere.
Police response and injuries
Police forces, some on horseback, intervened as the situation escalated after a melee among players on the pitch. The Polizei reported that 33 Beamte der Bundespolizei and two Polizisten from Baden‑Württemberg were lightly injured, classified as Blessuren. A spokesperson (Sprecherin) said that, nach heutigem Kenntnisstand, the injuries treated in the Spital were leichte Verletzungen.
In total around 1'400 Sicherheitskräfte were deployed, including officers from Rheinland‑Pfalz and Bayern. The extensive deployment was intended to restore order after the fans' aggressive actions.
After the pitch invasion, the Anpfiff zur Verlängerung was delayed and briefly threatened with abandonment. Play resumed calmly, and Kaiserslautern, with Swiss defender Jan Elvedi, secured a 1‑0 win with a goal in the 120th minute.
Following the decisive goal, the Feuerwehr extinguished a fire set by fans in the guest block. The blaze was confined to the seating area and caused no further injuries.
The Polizei has opened investigations for Beleidigungen, Körperverletzung, Sachbeschädigung, Landfriedensbruch, tätlichen Angriff auf Polizeibeamte, and Verstöße gegen das Sprengstoffgesetz.
The Deutscher Fussball‑Bund announced on Instagram that it will review the incidents «umfassend». Both clubs condemned the rioters; Lautern Geschäftsführer Thomas Hengen called the Derby "fair" but warned that firing rockets into the family block exceeds the limit. Waldhof‑Geschäftsführer Gerhard Zuber added that such actions may force a decision not to continue the Spiel.
Innenminister Manuel Hagel denounced the scenes, stating, "Wer den Fussball als Bühne für Gewaltexzesse missbraucht, ist kein Fan, sondern ein Krimineller." He pledged that the perpetrators will be treated accordingly to uphold law and order in German stadiums.