The Bochum goalkeeper was hit in the head by an object thrown from the stands at the Union Berlin stadium and both Bundesliga teams left the field on Saturday. When play resumed, they continued to play throughout without trying to score.
Patrick Drewes was preparing to take a goal kick with the score 1-1 in stoppage time when he was hit by an object similar in size and shape to a lighter. He sat up and received medical attention.
The referee stopped the game and sent both teams off the field.
Nearly half an hour later, play resumed with Drewes replaced by striker Philipp Hofmann. With about three minutes left in the game, both teams agreed not to attempt to score.
The players passed the ball around the pitch, walked and talked to their opponents, waiting for the referee to call the match over.
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“Our coach and their coach discussed it together and the coach told us we would go out on the pitch and finish the match, and that’s what we did,” Hofmann told broadcaster Sky.
He indicated that more than one lighter was thrown during the incident. Hofmann added that Drewes was treated by staff in Bochum and did not know his condition.
“This is unacceptable. “No matter how hard he was hit, whether he bleeds or not, it’s just wrong,” he said.
Union will likely face disciplinary action over the organization of the match, with Bochum potentially asking for the result to be changed to a default 3-0 win.
Bochum had already made changes at three different points in the match, which meant it would be impossible to bring in another goalkeeper to replace Drewes. Bochum finished the match with nine players due to Drewes’ absence and an earlier red card.
Union was 12th and Bochum last in the 18-team Bundesliga.
