2nd Bundesliga: Hamburger SV loses against Hannover 96 – fan protests again

Enlarge image

Fans put bicycle locks on a gate in Hamburg to protest against the investor investment

Photo: Eibner press photo / Marcel von Fehrn / Eibner / IMAGO

In resistance to the German Football League's (DFL) plans to allow an external investor to share in the league's revenue, fans once again caused long interruptions at the two Friday games of the 2nd Bundesliga. In particular, Hamburger SV's dramatic 3:4 (1:3) against Hannover 96 was interrupted twice for a long time. First, fans attached six bicycle locks to a gate during halftime; it took a while until these were removed.

Afterwards, Hanover fans showed several posters. Among other things, 96 President Martin Kind was in the crosshairs. Kind is particularly criticized: his club Hannover 96 had asked him in advance to vote against the investor entry in the secret vote. However, Kind is considered to be investor-friendly, and many suspect that he voted in favor of joining in the secret ballot. The game was stopped and only resumed when the posters were rolled up.

In the second game of the evening, SV Wehen Wiesbaden and 1. FC Nürnberg drew 1-1 (0-0). Here, too, there were delays due to fan protests.

Hannover 96 has inflicted the next home blow on Hamburger SV and has reported itself back into the promotion battle of the 2nd Bundesliga. But the sporting side of Lower Saxony's 4:3 (2:1) took a back seat on Friday evening. The game was interrupted for more than 30 minutes in the second half before being abandoned by referee Sören Storks.

The trigger was three banners in the guest block with portraits and a crosshair each - including the head of 96 managing director Martin Kind. These banners apparently ensured that the referee sent the teams into the catacombs after about an hour of play.

In addition, the 96 supporters had displayed banners with the inscriptions "CVC & Blackstone puppets of Saudi Arabia's sportswashing", "Consistent action in the face of personalized threats of violence" and "Game interruption now". CVC and Blackstone are being discussed as investors.

Thrilling duel

The start of the second half had already been delayed because some supporters from HSV's north curve had managed to lock heavy bicycle locks on the posts of a gate. The locks could only be removed using a power cutter. Objects also flew onto the field.

In terms of sport, both teams offered a thrilling northern duel. Nicolo Tresoldi (11th), an own goal from Guilherme Ramos (21st) and ex-Hamburg player Louis Schaub (32nd) put Lower Saxony in the front before the break. László Bénes (24th) scored the next goal at short notice with his eleventh goal of the season. Substitute HSV defender Dennis Hadžikadunić (47th) shortened the score in the second half. Robert Glatzel (86th) managed to equalize.

In the final minutes plus 16 minutes of stoppage time, Hamburg had to play outnumbered after the red card for Bénes (88th). Sebastian Ernst took advantage of this to score the guests' acclaimed winning goal. To make matters worse for HSV, Hadžikadunić later received a yellow-red card.

With their third win in a row, Hannover moved within two points of third place in the promotion relegation zone. Hamburg, on the other hand, had to accept their third defeat in a row at their home Volksparkstadion, but initially remained second in the table.

Without top player Can Uzun, who was ill, 1. FC Nürnberg had to settle for a point at SV Wehen Wiesbaden. At 1:1 (0:0) on Friday evening, the Franconians were even threatened with defeat after a self-inflicted deficit caused by Wiesbaden's striker Ivan Prtajin (61st minute). Defender Iván Márquez equalized with a well-placed header (70'). It was the club's third winless game in a row in the fourth game of the second half of the season.

After the break, the game in front of 9,526 spectators in the Wiesbaden Arena was interrupted twice because tennis balls were thrown onto the grass from the Nuremberg fan block in protest against the DFL's planned investor involvement. After the first interruption, Nuremberg made a mistake. Goalkeeper Carl Klaus made a sloppy pass to Florian Flick. Prtajin punished the loss of the ball with his well-placed shot from 16 meters.

The ten-time goalscorer Uzun was represented by Taylan Duman. The 26-year-old was an asset but unlucky in finishing. After a fine combination, he shot the ball over the goal from twelve meters (32nd) and was denied by goalkeeper Florian Stritzel a few minutes later. Prtajin still had a header chance in long added time.

kjo/dpa