HAMBURG, Germany — In a jubilant but chaotic celebration, fans of Hamburger SV commemorated the team’s promotion back to the Bundesliga, with one supporter sustaining life-threatening injuries, the local fire department reported on Sunday.
The celebrations, which erupted on Saturday as passionate fans flooded the field, prompted the Hamburg Fire Department to initiate what they described as a “major emergency response.” A total of 44 fans required medical assistance during the tumultuous celebrations. Among those, 25 were hospitalized, including five who suffered only slight injuries, while others were in more critical condition.
Hamburg’s resounding 6-1 victory over Ulm cemented their return to the prestigious top tier of German football. This triumph ensures the team’s position among the top two in the second division, granting them automatic promotion to the Bundesliga.
The road back to the Bundesliga has been a challenging journey for Hamburg. Since their relegation from the top division, the team had spent six seasons narrowly missing out on promotion, finally achieving success on their seventh attempt.
Once known as “der Dino,” a nickname acknowledging their status as the only team to participate in every Bundesliga season since its inception in 1963, Hamburger SV faced relegation in 2018 after several nail-biting close calls. Fans are now eager to see their team reclaim its place in Germany’s top football league.