BOCHUM, Germany (AP) — A dispute over fan banners blocking emergency exits caused kickoff to be delayed by more than half an hour in a German Bundesliga game between Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The referee sent both teams back to the locker rooms after attempts to persuade visiting Frankfurt fans to remove the banners from certain areas of the security fence failed. Security staff and representatives of both clubs appeared to be involved in the talks.
If the banners weren’t removed, the game would not be able to take place, a stadium announcement warned the Frankfurt fans, “and that isn’t in your interests or ours.”
Frankfurt is fourth in the Bundesliga and chasing Champions League qualification. Bochum is 16th in the 18-team league and trying to avoid relegation.
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