The police drew a positive balance at the Niederrheinpokal match between Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and MSV Duisburg. RWO complained to the MSV fans.

In front of almost 10,000 spectators, regional league team Rot-Weiß Oberhausen knocked third division team MSV Duisburg out of the Lower Rhine Cup. According to the Oberhausen police press office, the working day for the police officers “went off peacefully for the most part”.

The Oberhausen police reported about 5,000 visiting fans who made their way to the neighbouring city to watch the team’s elimination from the cup. There were no conflicts between the fan camps despite the derby character and certainly frustrated MSV fans. “Pyrotechnics were set off in the home block at the start of the game; a total of four charges were filed for bodily harm,” the authorities stated, adding: “The police reacted consistently to these offences.

The hosts saw things differently. “Dear Duisburgers, We understand your frustration, but…” the cloverleaves prefaced a tweet the morning after the cup match, showing pictures of vandalised and destroyed toilet facilities.

Prior to the match, the police had advertised a peaceful derby in an open letter via the Oberhausen regional league club’s website, but equally announced a crackdown on misconduct.