Union Berlin fans join Bundesliga protests against Hoffenheim’s Dietmar Hopp
Union Berlin’s game against Wolfsburg was held up for 10 minutes as home fans became the latest set of supporters to protest against Hoffenheim president Dietmar Hopp and the German FA this weekend.
Bayern Munich’s game at Hoffenheim on Saturday stopped for 20 minutes because of a banner – with players tapping the ball around for the final 13 minutes to get the game to full-time.
Borussia Dortmund and Cologne were among the other fans to protest on Saturday.
- Read more about Saturday’s Bayern Munich protests
Billionaire Hopp is a divisive character in German football, having bankrolled Hoffenheim up from the fifth tier to the Bundesliga between 2000 and 2008.
In 2015, Hopp was allowed to take a majority voting share – one of three exceptions, including Wolfsburg – to the 50+1 rule which means members must own more than half the shares in their club.
Bundesliga fans are also angry that all Borussia Dortmund supporters have been banned from Hoffenheim away games for the past two seasons – a decision made in February followed a suspended sentence from 2018 – rather than just the ultras who led the protests.
Sunday’s match was suspended for more than 10 minutes during the first half when Union ultras showed banners with Hopp in the crosshairs and ones critical of the German FA (DFB). Union coach Urs Fischer and his players pleaded with home fans to remove the banners.
Fischer said: “I understand you want to show your opinion, but it should be with decency and respect. I didn’t see that in these banners.
“It was very uncomfortable for my boys – such an interruption can completely steer a game in the wrong direction. In my view, these posters were completely unnecessary.”
Wolfsburg came from 2-0 down to draw the game 2-2.
Line-ups
Union Berlin
Substitutes
Wolfsburg
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, 1. FC Union Berlin 2, VfL Wolfsburg 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, 1. FC Union Berlin 2, VfL Wolfsburg 2.
Attempt missed. Admir Mehmedi (VfL Wolfsburg) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Maximilian Arnold with a cross following a corner.
Corner, VfL Wolfsburg. Conceded by Marvin Friedrich.
Kevin Mbabu (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sebastian Andersson (1. FC Union Berlin).
Substitution
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Felix Klaus replaces Josip Brekalo.
Corner, 1. FC Union Berlin. Conceded by Kevin Mbabu.
Foul by Yannick Gerhardt (VfL Wolfsburg).
Grischa Prömel (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marvin Friedrich (1. FC Union Berlin).
Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Julian Ryerson (1. FC Union Berlin).
Substitution
Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Julian Ryerson replaces Marius Bülter.
Goal!
Goal! 1. FC Union Berlin 2, VfL Wolfsburg 2. Wout Weghorst (VfL Wolfsburg) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Joao Victor with a cross.
Offside, 1. FC Union Berlin. Christopher Trimmel tries a through ball, but Sebastian Andersson is caught offside.
Foul by Kevin Mbabu (VfL Wolfsburg).
Christopher Lenz (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Yannick Gerhardt (VfL Wolfsburg).
Marcus Ingvartsen (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Joao Victor replaces Daniel Ginczek.
Wout Weghorst (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marvin Friedrich (1. FC Union Berlin).
Substitution
Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Grischa Prömel replaces Christian Gentner.
Attempt saved. Marcus Ingvartsen (1. FC Union Berlin) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Robert Andrich with a cross.
Offside, 1. FC Union Berlin. Christopher Lenz tries a through ball, but Marius Bülter is caught offside.
Foul by Yannick Gerhardt (VfL Wolfsburg).
Robert Andrich (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Marcus Ingvartsen replaces Yunus Malli.
Substitution
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Admir Mehmedi replaces Renato Steffen.
Attempt missed. Josip Brekalo (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Paulo Otávio.
Attempt blocked. Robert Andrich (1. FC Union Berlin) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Marius Bülter (1. FC Union Berlin) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Yunus Malli (1. FC Union Berlin) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sebastian Andersson with a headed pass.
Booking
Renato Steffen (VfL Wolfsburg) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Renato Steffen (VfL Wolfsburg).
Keven Schlotterbeck (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! 1. FC Union Berlin 2, VfL Wolfsburg 1. Yannick Gerhardt (VfL Wolfsburg) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Maximilian Arnold with a cross following a corner.
Corner, VfL Wolfsburg. Conceded by Sebastian Andersson.
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