Bochum keeper assaulted by lighter during match at Union Berlin

In Germany, during a Bundesliga match on Saturday, December 14, 2024, Bochum's goalkeeper Patrick Drewes suffered an injury when a lighter was thrown from the crowd and struck him. The match, played against Union Berlin, was halted by the referee, Martin Petersen, as Drewes lay on the ground requiring attention. After being taken off the field, both teams eventually returned to play, but Bochum was forced to place a striker, Philipp Hofmann, in goal due to their use of all available substitutes. The match resumed with a 1-1 scoreline and both teams agreed not to pursue scoring, leading to a subdued finish and an official draw, which left Bochum at the bottom of the league table. Following the incident, Bochum's managing director, Ilja Kaenzig, voiced their intention to protest the match outcome, stating they believe the game should have been abandoned. He indicated that an appeal to the German football association would be lodged in the coming week. Meanwhile, Union Berlin's spokesperson revealed that police had identified the individual responsible for throwing the lighter, and a report was already filed. Bochum’s coach, Dieter Hecking, mentioned that Drewes would undergo further medical evaluations as a precaution. The incident has raised concerns over crowd behavior and security at football matches, underscoring ongoing issues within sports environments where spectator safety is paramount.