After the final whistle, unpleasant scenes occurred at VfL Bochum: keeper Manuel Riemann went head-to-head with a fan. The scuffle had to be broken up.

Unpleasant scenes at the Ruhrstadion. After the bitter defeat of VfL Bochum against VfB Stuttgart, the mood turned negative. Keeper Manuel Riemann blew a fuse.

There had already been whistles from the stands early on in the game. The VfL fans were not satisfied with their team’s performance, especially in the first half. After the final whistle, emotions boiled over and there was a scandal.

A small group of fans had gathered just above the Bochum bench. They apparently insulted the VfL players so violently that Riemann allowed himself to be provoked. On his way into the players’ tunnel, the goalkeeper turned around, sprinted towards the main stand, pulled himself up and jumped into the group of fans. Riemann went “head-to-head” with one fan.

A scuffle broke out that had to be broken up by security, other fans and teammates. Philipp Hofmann, who witnessed the situation from close range, showed no understanding for the provocation of the fans. “This kind of thing is not proper. We have everything in our own hands. Sure, we lost a game, but there’s no point in being abusive and insulting now.”

Coach Thomas Letsch did not want or could not assess the situation at the press conference. “I didn’t perceive it at all because I was already down. But the fact is: if it gets physical, then it doesn’t work at all. We also don’t have to be personally insulted when something goes wrong.”

In general, however, he considers the development in stadiums and also outside to be questionable. “This is a social problem. When we go somewhere by bus and I then see fathers where the children are with them, and they give me the middle finger, I ask myself, where are we? We know our situation: If you win, they pat you on the back, and if you don’t win, they are less friendly. But no one has to be insulted.” Letsch emphasized several times, however, that his statements did not refer at all to the specific situation with Riemann.

As a result of the defeat, the gap to the relegation place is now only three points. The next match is against Union Berlin (Sunday, April 16, 17:30). Missing will be captain Anthony Losilla, who saw his fifth yellow card after being substituted.