The third division match between MSV Duisburg and VfL Osnabrück, which was abandoned due to a racist insult, will be replayed. This was the decision of the DFB Sports Court on Thursday following a corresponding application by both clubs.
It was the first match abandoned due to racism in German professional football. A make-up date has not yet been set, and a possible punishment for MSV is to be decided later. VfL player Aaron Opoku had been subjected to “significant racist insults” from the stands on Sunday.
“The incident is a non-standardised special case which, regardless of any fault on the part of the clubs involved, justifies a replay in the opinion of the sports court,” said Stephan Oberholz, deputy chairman of the DFB sports court: “Emotionally and morally, we consider VfL Osnabrück’s decision not to continue the match to be understandable. We also expressly support the intention to send a signal against racism. “
Match should not become a precedent
However, Oberholz added, “it must remain clear that the right to abandon a match belongs in principle to the referee alone. We also expressly point out that in future, comparable cases of match abandonment, the intensity of the offence, the profile of the offender, the time and the score must always be taken into closer consideration with regard to the match classification.”
Both teams as well as referee Nicolas Winter and his team had left the pitch on Sunday. After a short period of reflection, VfL did not feel able to continue playing. As a result, the match was abandoned. Both clubs now described the DFB’s decision as “appropriate”.
The Duisburg police have filed charges against a 55-year-old man who admitted to the insult. However, he had meant another player.
