BERLIN, Oct 26: The German Football Federation (DFB) on Wednesday launched an investigation after rioting in Dortmund by Dynamo Dresden fans led to police officers being injured and more than a dozen arrests.
Second-division Dresden lost 2-0 at German league champions Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night in the second round of the German cup, but violent scenes marred the game which was screened live on terrestrial television.
Two police officers were injured and 15 fans were arrested after clashes before, during and after the game saw police pelted with bottles and fireworks before officers in riot gear used pepper-spray to break up groups of fans.
The kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes and the referee stopped the game briefly three times after objects were thrown onto the pitch while Dresden fans constantly set off fireworks in the Dortmund stadium.
After the final whistle, visiting fans rioted by smashing up rows of seats and local police claim known criminals from the Dresden area had travelled with the football fans.
By Wednesday afternoon, the police had charged more than a dozen people and the DFB have said they will launch a full investigation.
“Never before in my career in charge of football operations have I experienced such massive attacks against police,” said Dortmund’s chief superintendent Peter Andres.
“In my eyes, these alleged football fans are just criminals who have it in for the police. They use the cover of the innocent fans to commit their acts of violence.”
Dynamo Dresden’s president Andreas Ritter said the violence had tarnished his club’s image. “We have ruined our reputation in Germany, that has to be said,” said Ritter, whose club was fined in the past by the DFB for their fans’ conduct.
“We can’t go on like this. Dortmund has shown us how we can deal fairly with each other and we have to learn from that.”Dresden captain Cristian Fiel, who had tried to calm the fans, admitted he was disillusioned and striker Robert Koch said
the conduct of Dresden’s fans had shamed him.
“What these anarchists have done again is simply not acceptable,” the 25-year-old told German television broadcaster ZDF. “They are incorrigible. I am ashamed, I must honestly say.”—AFP
With the collabration of Dawn.
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