Patrick Ittrich, Bundesliga referee and police officer, said there was no alternative to stopping the third division game between FSV Zwickau and Rot-Weiss Essen after an attack on the referee. “It’s unbelievable how we referees are treated,” wrote the 44-year-old on Twitter for a short video. It shows how Ittrich’s colleague Nicolas Winter from Hagenbach got beer poured in the face by a spectator on Sunday.
The incident happened on the way to the dressing room after the first half. Winter didn’t return to the field after the break, he stopped the game. There should not have been any consultation with those responsible for the clubs.
“I’m speechless!” Ittrich continued and added: “Hopefully this fan will be punished with all severity. Don’t you think about what that does to a person?!”
That will have consequences, emphasized Zwickau’s board spokesman Frank Fischer at MDR. He announced legal action against the viewer. “Protection for life and limb is the top priority. Nobody has to throw a cup here,” said Fischer.
With a view to the canceled game, he pleaded for a repetition. “It’s out of our hands. We don’t need a point deduction or a financial penalty,” he said. Sanctioning is the responsibility of the German Football Association.
In the 45th minute of the relegation battle, Zwickau’s Nils Butzen was shown the red card after a foul on Isaiah Young, which he interpreted as an emergency brake. Johann Gomez got the free kick in the penalty area on his arm, Winter decided on a penalty. This was converted by Simon Engelmann (45.3). Dominic Baumann (36th) had previously given the hosts the lead.
After some reactions to his tweet about the cancellation of the game, Ittrich commented on Twitter: “As is the case here, aggression against people, verbal and physical violence is downplayed, is disgusting!”
