The second division match between Darmstadt 98 and 1. FC Nürnberg had to be interrupted due to a mug being thrown. The police have a suspect.

After the scandalous throwing of a cup at professional footballer Tobias Kempe, the perpetrator has apparently been found. Thanks to video footage, the police were able to identify a suspect,” said 1. FC Nuremberg after the 0:2 defeat at Kempe’s club Darmstadt 98. The man would “then hopefully be punished accordingly”.

Kempe was hit by a mug from the Nuremberg block in the 65th minute while taking a corner kick. The second league match was resumed after a short interruption and Kempe continued to play.

“Basically, we always have great support away from home. Nevertheless, I would ask that people refrain from such shit. That has no place in football,” club coach Robert Klauß criticised his own supporters: “We don’t need that.”

The nine-time German champions were trailing 0:2 at the time through goals from Kempe (8th) and Phillip Tietz (27th). The FCN announced: “Once again: With all emotion, this kind of behaviour has no place in the stadium.”

Klauß praised Kempe, who had even played for the club in 2016/2017, for his behaviour. The 33-year-old did not drop theatrically, but only briefly grabbed his head. The reaction was “remarkable”, said Klauß: “It was good that he stayed calm, so we could continue the game quickly.”

However, it did not end well for Nuremberg: The ambitious old champions suffered their third defeat in the last four games, the fifth in ten games so far this season. The “greed was missing,” complained Klauß: “We didn’t show what we are capable of. “