DFB penalty for Bochum cup throwing: VfL gets off lightly

Bundesliga club VfL Bochum got away with a relatively light sentence for the cup throwing scandal. The partial exclusion of spectators pronounced by the sports court of the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday was suspended on probation. The probation period runs until June 30, 2023.

Only in the case of similar incidents during this period would VfL have to close the entire south stand for a game. In addition, the club should not charge a ticket surcharge for this game. The club has already accepted the verdict.

On the other hand, VfL cannot avoid the imposed fine of 100,000 euros. Of this, however, 33,000 euros “can be used for security and violence prevention measures”. There are also three other fines totaling 15,000 euros for throwing cups by Bochum fans in the league games against Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin and in the cup game against SC Freiburg.

The Bochumers also have to fulfill certain requirements. This includes “a concept for the introduction of a high-resolution video surveillance system” and the introduction of a returnable cup system.

During the Bundesliga game between VfL and Borussia Mönchengladbach on March 18, assistant referee Christian Gittelmann (Gauersheim) was hit in the head by a beer mug. The canceled encounter was scored 2-0 for Gladbach.

According to Gittelmann, he suffered a contused skull and whiplash in the incident. In the meantime, the public prosecutor’s office has brought charges against a 38-year-old suspect for dangerous bodily harm.