Video: German Cup match abandoned after referee was struck by lighter

Referee Martin Peterson reacts after getting hit by a lighter

The DFB Pokal first round tie between VfL Osnabruck and RB Leipzig was called off in the 71st minute, when the referee was struck by a lighter thrown from the crowd. This was the second controversial incident to have taken place over the German Cup weekend, with the first one being the Hertha Berlin bus shooting.

Third tier side VfL Osnabruck were leading 1-0 at Osnatel-Arena when the game was abandoned. Referee Martin Peterson was pelted with a lighter from the home section of the crowd and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after, though he was reportedly conscious and fine after the ordeal.

Fellow Osnabruck player Nicolas Feldhahn was shocked with the behaviour of the home fans, and gave his comments after the game. "We're all in the changing room and are totally shocked and sad," he said, according to Eurosport.

"This is something I've never experienced. We are confident that we would have won the game. What happens now, I do not know."

VfL Osnabruck club president Hermann Queckenstedt issued an official apology on behalf of the club to 13,000 spectators via the stadium’s PA system after the game. "This is a bitter lesson. I apologize on behalf of VfL Osnabrück at referee Petersen," he said, before asking the spectators to calmly leave the stadium.

Since it is believed that the lighter was thrown from the home section of the crowd, VfL Osnabruck could be ousted from the tournament if they are found guilty after DFB’s investigation.

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Edited by Staff Editor