In Berlin, a disturbing incident occurred during a Bundesliga match between Bochum and Union Berlin on Saturday when Bochum’s goalkeeper was hit in the head by an object believed to have been thrown from the crowd. As a result of this event, both teams left the field momentarily. When play resumed, the two sides agreed to simply run down the clock without attempting to score.

The incident took place when Patrick Drewes was preparing for a goalkick, with the match tied at 1-1 in stoppage time. An object resembling a cigarette lighter struck him, prompting him to sit down on the ground. Medical personnel quickly attended to him following the impact.

The referee decided to suspend the match, leading both teams off as safety was prioritized. Nearly thirty minutes passed before play resumed, during which time Drewes had to be substituted out for striker Philipp Hofmann. With merely three minutes left in the match, players from both teams reached a mutual decision to refrain from scoring, opting instead for a more respectful approach by passing the ball around on the field, engaging in conversations, and waiting for the referee to call the game to a close.

Dieter Hecking, Bochum’s head coach, confirmed that Drewes was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. He stated that there was a sort of “non-aggression pact” between the teams once they resumed play, but also indicated that Bochum was contesting the game, as they felt it was unfair for them to continue without their starting goalkeeper.

Ilja Kaenzig, the CEO of Bochum, announced that the club intends to file an official protest regarding the match’s outcome, asserting that the referee should not have allowed play to restart under the circumstances. Following these events, Union Berlin may also face disciplinary measures for the night’s occurrences.

Union’s spokesperson, Christian Arbeit, confirmed that a suspect believed to be involved in the incident has been identified, prompting police involvement. Meanwhile, Bochum faced additional challenges, having already utilized all their substitution opportunities, which prevented them from bringing in another goalkeeper to fill in for Drewes. Consequently, they ended the match with just nine players due to both the earlier red card and the absence of their injured goalkeeper.

In the league standings, Bochum is positioned at the bottom, while Union Berlin sits in 12th place among the 18 teams in the Bundesliga.