Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim Players Refuse to Play Final Minutes of Match in Support of Hoffenheim Owner
By Liam McKeone
Bayern Munich faced off against Hoffenheim today, but the match was never really finished. Sure, the clock hit 90:00 and the game ended, but the final ten minutes of play was nothing more than some juggling by both sides.
Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim did this for the final 10 minutes to protest hateful banners displayed by Bayern fans targeting Hoffenheim's owner.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 29, 2020
(via @FOXSoccer) pic.twitter.com/wh3I7dQi8D
Bayern Munich's fans held up signs criticizing Hoffenheim's owner, Dietmar Hopp. Both Bayern and Hoffenheim players weren't happy about the sign, and play was even stopped as Bayern Munich players ran over to the fans to tell them to put the signs away.
1. La afición del Bayern sacó una pancarta insultando al dueño del Hoffenheim: el partido se paró y la plantilla se enfrentó a sus hinchas.
— Fútbol en Movistar+ (@MovistarFutbol) February 29, 2020
2. Tras reanudarse, volvió a sacar otra pancarta: el árbitro suspendió el partido. #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/mCsF9Eij5s
Another banner [DH son of a whore], game stopped again + referee Christian Dingert takes the players off with Bayern 6 up.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) February 29, 2020
Loud applause from TSG end. Entire Bayern team go over to plead with their fans. Coach Hansi Flick, Hermann Gerland + Hasan Salihamidzic there too, fuming. pic.twitter.com/nlUQAlpHAi
The fans then took out another sign, leading to both teams refusing to play the last minutes of the match.
Hopp has been a target lately for German fans. Here's why:
Bayern Munich's visit to Hoffenheim has been suspended due to derogatory banners about Dietmar Hopp.
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) February 29, 2020
But why have German football fans taken issue with the Hoffenheim owner? ?
Allow @larssivertsen to explain...#BTSportScore pic.twitter.com/zhr10GPLXq
This is a bizarre display that we rarely see in any sport. Players on both sides unified against fans in support of an owner is quite a sight.