A German Cup first-round clash between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern descended into chaos late Friday, leaving approximately 100 people injured, including 35 police officers. Authorities had designated the fixture as high-risk due to the intense rivalry between the two clubs, which are located just 50 kilometres (30 miles) apart. To manage the tension, nearly 1,400 police officers were deployed to provide security at the stadium.
The trouble began when visiting supporters fired flares toward the main stand, prompting home fans to storm the pitch in retaliation. The match was halted for roughly 30 minutes with the score tied at 0-0 at the end of regulation time. Police later confirmed that 85 individuals required medical attention, with eight people transported to the hospital for further treatment. Order was eventually restored following a “massive police intervention on the pitch to force individuals back toward the home supporters’ section using physical measures.”
Following the lengthy delay, the match resumed and eventually concluded with a 1-0 victory for Kaiserslautern, secured by an Ibrahim Kanate goal in the 120th minute.
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