A German Cup match between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern in Mannheim was halted for about half an hour on Friday as fans threw fireworks and other objects and invaded the pitch. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The match was tied at 0-0 and heading into extra time when the incident occurred. The event took place on August 21, 2026.
Photographs show Waldhof Mannheim goalkeeper Thijmen Nijhuis covering his face as smoke caused by pyrotechnics lit by fans blankets the stadium. Police officers also stood in front of the Waldhof Mannheim fan section, trying to control the situation.
Additionally, a Waldhof Mannheim supporter was escorted away off the pitch by police officers. This incident has once again highlighted the issue of fan disorder in German football.
Details about the resumption of the match have not been provided, but an investigation is underway.