The game in the third division between FSV Zwickau and Rot-Weiss Essen was stopped at half-time when the score was 1-1. Referee Nicolas Winter had been thrown beer in the face by an angry fan while walking into the dressing room. Winter didn’t come out of the dressing room after the half-time break and stopped the game. When the second half was supposed to begin, the stadium announcer announced to the spectators that the game had been stopped.
“Terrible. Terrible,” said Zwickau’s spokesman, Frank Fischer, about the incident at Magentasport. “There are certain things that just don’t work. That will have consequences. Protection for life and limb is the top priority. Nobody has to throw a cup here.” The referee will prepare a special report, which the DFB sports court will use for a verdict. “It’s out of our hands. We don’t need a point deduction or a financial penalty. We advocate a replay of the game,” said Fischer.
In the 45th minute, the referee had shown Nils Butzen from Zwickau a red card for an unfortunate foul on Isaiah Young, which he interpreted as an emergency brake. Johann Gomez got the free kick that was due in the penalty area on his arm, whereupon Winter decided on a penalty. This was converted by Simon Engelmann (45.3). Dominic Baumann (36th) had previously given the hosts the lead.
Both teams are fighting relegation. Zwickau is already seven points behind the first non-relegation zone, occupied by Hallesche FC. If the game is counted as a defeat against Zwickau, this could bring the Saxons dangerously close to being relegated to the regional league. Rot Weiss Essen is in 15th place in the table, one point ahead of Halle.