Bochum keeper struck by a lighter in game against Union Berlin in extra time at the Bundesliga yesterday night.
Bochum keeper Patrick Drewes was hit by a lighter in their Bundesliga draw at Union Berlin on Saturday.
The club will now will protest to the German football association with the teams later returning to the pitch to finish the match without trying to score.
A lighter thrown from the crowd struck the 31-year-old Drewes, sending him to the ground as the game was at 1-1 and extra time was running out.
“He is currently being taken to the hospital where he will be completely checked again, and then we will wait and see,” said Bochum’s coach, Dieter Hecking.
Martin Petersen, the referee, halted play and removed the teams. Later, they went back on the pitch, but since all of their replacements had already been used, Bochum had to start striker Philipp Hofmann in goal for the rest of the game.
“In our opinion, the game should have consequently been abandoned. We finished the match under protest and will lodge an appeal on Monday,” Bochum’s managing director, Ilja Kaenzig, told Sky Germany.
Both teams had agreed not to attack in the final minutes, resulting in a subdued conclusion as they shared the spoils. The referee confirmed the deal, saying: “That was an agreement between the two teams. You have to ask the teams about that. I have nothing to do with it.”
According to Union spokesperson Christian Arbeit, police later said: “The perpetrator was identified and handed over to the police. A report has already been filed.”