RB Leipzig have been awarded a 2-0 win over VfL Osnabrück after the cup tie between the clubs last weekend was abandoned when referee Martin Petersen was struck on the head by a lighter thrown by an Osnabrück supporter.
The DFB decided the tie in favour of the Red Bull side on Friday morning, despite the club having sportingly offered Osnabrück a rematch, announcing in a statement that:
“Our club stands for fairness, fair play, family friendliness, social engagement, sporting competition and mutual respect.”
Since a re-match is theoretically only possible when no blame can legitimately be ascribed to either club, many have dismissed the offer as little more than a publicity stunt on the part of the controversial Leipzig franchise.
Hans E. Lorenz, the chairman of the DFB panel which made the decision, said he had taken Leipzig's offer into consideration but, although it is “a nice gesture”, it does not change the panel's decision.
Herr Lorenz continued, stating that, “were the panel to accept this offer, it would set a precedent for future cases” and insisting that “the rules of the competition cannot be dependent on the goodwill of individual clubs.”
Disaster for Osnabrück
Ironically, division three Osnabrück were ahead in the match, having taken the lead in the opening minute through Halil Savran.
They were 20 minutes away from a famous victory when, in the 71st minute, a scuffle broke out between Leipzig's Davie Selke and Osnabrück substitute Michael Hohnstedt, who had been warming up behind the visitors' goal.
Referee Petersen (30, from Stuttgart) was struck by the red lighter when he intervened in the dispute, and subsequently ordered the players back into the dressing room. A few minutes later, the abandoned the match.
RB Leipzig complained that their staff and players had been subjected to abuse and bombarded with objects throughout the whole game. Osnabrück director Lothar Gans preferred to blame “one out of 13,000” fans in the ground, but nevertheless condemned the incident as a “disaster” for his club which “cannot be excused”.
Further financial sanctions could yet be imposed on the 3rd division side in a separate hearing.
On Friday afternoon, Osnabrück announced they would not be appealing the decision, meaning the draw for the second round of the cup can go ahead this evening, as planned. Red Bull Leipzig will be in it.