Kaiserslautern beats Waldhof Mannheim 1-0 after police horses halt cup derby riot
Police deployed mounted units onto the pitch in Mannheim after fans clashed and fired pyrotechnics at the end of regular time, before Ibrahim Kanaté scored a 120th-minute winner in the DFB-Pokal first round.
Clashes and mounted police intervention
The DFB-Pokal first-round fixture between 3. Liga side SV Waldhof Mannheim and 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Kaiserslautern was disrupted at the end of regular time at the Carl-Benz-Stadion. Following a goalless 90 minutes, an on-pitch altercation involving Kaiserslautern captain Marlon Ritter and Mannheim forward Gonçalo Gregório escalated tensions across the ground. Referee Robert Schröder booked Ritter, Gregório, and Waldhof goalkeeper Thijmen Nijhuis. Away supporters fired pyrotechnics toward the home stands, while Mannheim supporters launched fireworks toward the pitch and attempted a pitch invasion. Hundreds of police officers and mounted units on horseback entered the field to restore order and seal off the home terrace.
On-pitch chances and repeated disruptions
Tension between the two fanbases, rooted in a rivalry dating back to the early 1980s, had already delayed the game from the opening minutes. Schröder briefly halted play in the third minute because thick smoke from away pyrotechnics covered the pitch. Mannheim created the better early opportunities when Kushtrim Asallari missed from short range in the 12th minute and Julian Rieckmann was denied around the half-hour mark. Kaiserslautern responded before the interval as Thierry Tazemeta struck the post in the 40th minute. The second half also started late due to flares, and Gregório hit the woodwork for Mannheim in the 74th minute before cups and flagpoles were thrown from the stands.
- Referee Robert Schröder pauses the match due to thick smoke from pyrotechnics
- Mannheim forward Kushtrim Asallari misses a close-range scoring opportunity
- Kaiserslautern attacker Thierry Tazemeta hits the post
- Gonçalo Gregório strikes the woodwork for SV Waldhof Mannheim
- Player scuffle triggers crowd unrest, attempted pitch invasion, and police horse deployment
- Ibrahim Kanaté scores the winning goal for 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Late winner after threat of abandonment
Following the pitch invasion attempt, Schröder directed both teams into the dressing rooms while stadium announcements stated that any further unrest would cause the match to be abandoned. After a suspension of roughly 30 minutes, play resumed for extra time in front of 23,513 spectators. With a penalty shootout approaching, Kaiserslautern forward Ibrahim Kanaté scored in the 120th minute. The goal secured a 1-0 victory for the visitors, sending the 2024 cup finalists into the second round of the competition for the fourth consecutive year.
Disciplinary fallout and official reactions
Both clubs face disciplinary proceedings and financial fines from the German Football Association (DFB). Schröder confirmed that his official match report would document the disruptions in detail.
The special report will be accordingly long.
Mannheim managing director Gerhard Zuber stated that abandoning the contest would have been an appropriate response to fireworks landing near family seating areas.
When rockets are fired into the family block, the line has been crossed. Da muss man irgendwann konsequent sein und vielleicht nicht mehr weiterspielen.
Kaiserslautern managing director Thomas Hengen acknowledged the severity of the incidents while praising the actions of the match officials and security personnel.
This is a derby, emotions are high, but something like this must not get out of hand. It harms us, it harms everyone, it harms football.
