Many of the 3,000 or so Frankfurters who were at London's Olympic Stadium for Eintracht's game against West Ham United were exposed to the anger of the English fans.

Eyewitnesses reported that lighters and, above all, coins flew from the block of English fans, separated only by a ditch, over to the Eintracht camp throughout the game.

There had already been clashes between fan groups from both camps during the Eintracht game in the round of 16 on March 9, when both teams played in the Spanish city - Frankfurt on Wednesday against Betis, West Ham on Thursday against Sevilla.

Daniel Schleidt

Coordinator of the economics department in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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In London, according to information from the FAZ, some of the Frankfurt fans were turned away by the security forces in front of the gates of the Olympic Stadium in London on Thursday.

For example, some fans who had bought tickets for the neutral area outside the guest block had to show their ID and were then not allowed in with reference to their nationality.

“Zero Tolerance Policy”

The English security guards pointed out that the "Zero Tolerance Policy" had been drawn attention to before the game.

The hosts reacted after the Eintracht game in Barcelona, ​​when more than 35,000 visiting fans were at the Camp Nou, and set tough rules for the game against the Hessians and their fans.

Reporters from Hessischer Rundfunk were also attacked by supporters of the home team during Eintracht Frankfurt's guest appearance at London club West Ham United in the Europa League.

In the live report by HR on the game, which Eintracht won 2-1, you can hear how the two broadcasters Tim Brockmeier and Philipp Hofmeister were attacked.

"We're being attacked here," Hofmeister said during the live broadcast.

In the seconds before, tumult had been audible.

"I've never experienced anything like that," said Brockmeier after both had been hit and the headset had been ripped off his head: "We're shocked." "Get, that's probably not "the fine English way," wrote Tim Brockmeier on Twitter.

Taken to safety during the break

During the break, the two reporters from Hessischer Rundfunk changed places and continued to comment from there.

"Mentally it was difficult afterwards," said Hofmeister.

According to their own statements, the two ARD radio reporters are doing well.

Brockmeier thanked the media staff of the Hessian Bundesliga club, but also the host Premier League club, "who really had to bring us to safety during the break".

The English club condemned what happened.

"We will work to find the perpetrators," a West Ham club spokesman was quoted as saying by football magazine "Kicker" on Friday.

“They will be given an indefinite ban and will not be allowed to enter the London Stadium or travel with the club.

There is no place for such behavior.”

The Hessian broadcaster sharply criticized the attacks on his two reporters.

"A football stadium is not a legal vacuum," said HR program director Gabriele Holzner on Friday.

"We expect the organizing club to also create conditions for reporters from the visiting team so that they can do their job without fear of being attacked," Holzner continued.

Beatings and physical violence are not tolerable under any circumstances.