FRANKFURT – The German Football Association (DFB) is to
investigate Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund, it said Monday, after
fans of the latter held up insulting banners and engaged in abusive
chants towards Hoffenheim president Dietmar Hopp during the weekend's
1-1 draw.
Dortmund will be investigated for the unsporting behaviour of their
support and damage caused to the away section of the Hoffenheim
ground. Hoffenheim will be probed for inadequate stewarding.
One huge banner showed a drawing of Hopp's face behind a cross-hair
pointer.
Earlier Monday, a lawyer representing Hoffenheim and Hopp called for
stricter handling of such situations.
"In such cases in the future, a game should not even be started or at
least not until the posters are removed," the sports law expert
Christoph Schickhardt told Kicker magazine.
Match referee Harm Osmer started the match as usual despite the
banner, which carried the tagline 'Hasta la vista, Hopp', being
unveiled before kick-off and again a few minutes into the game.
Hopp, 78, is the co-founder of software giants SAP and was allowed to
take over the club because he has invested heavily into them for more
than 20 years, bypassing the 50+1 rule which stipulates that club
members must hold a majority stake.