Hertha BSC cleared the DFB Pokal first round hurdle on Monday 24 hours after a shot was fired at their team bus as a clash between lower-league VfL Osnabrueck and RB Leipzig was suspended when the referee was struck on the head by a lighter.
A police inquiry is underway into Sunday’s incident, when a motorbike rider fired at the empty Hertha bus as it was being driven to pick up the team at Bielefeld train station.
A photograph posted by the club on Twitter showed the impact of the bullet, which smashed a hole in the windscreen at the level of the driver’s head. The driver escaped uninjured.
Photo: EPA
Hertha beat Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 with goals from Salomon Kalou and Vladimir Darida.
Referee Martin Petersen was wounded when he was struck on the head by a lighter during a tie between third-division Osnabrueck and second-division RB Leipzig. The game was called off in the 71st minute with hosts Osnabrueck leading 1-0.
The seriousness of the injury has not yet been revealed, but the German Football Federation (DFB) said that sanctions would be taken against the host club.
“The DFB control commission has already begun an inquiry,” DFB spokesman Ralf Koettker said.
Television replays showed Petersen being hit by a lighter thrown by Osnabrueck fans, with the club’s president taking the loudspeaker to ask supporters to “calmly leave the stadium.”
Meanwhile, Borussia Moenchengladbach, third in the league last season, beat second-division St Pauli 4-1.
Bayern Munich got their Cup campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a 3-1 defeat of fifth-division minnows Noettingen.
Holders VfL Wolfsburg eased to a 4-1 win at Stuttgarter Kickers, as Borussia Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, won 2-0 at Chemnitzer.
However, Bundesliga rivals Hamburg SV were knocked out by fourth-division Carl Zeiss Jena 3-2 in extra-time.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely