85 injured in German Cup clash between police and supporters

The German Cup match between arch-rivals Walshof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern turned into a battlefield beyond the football field. A total of 85 people, including 35 security personnel, were injured in extreme rioting by spectators and clashes with police.

The derby match, which was marked as high-risk on Friday night, was tense from the start. The historical animosity between the fans, as the two cities are only 50 kilometers apart, already raised the risk of violence. Violence spread to the gallery after the scheduled 90-minute match ended 0-0.

Police said that the Kaiserslautern fans threw flares towards the main stand, causing the Mannheim fans to take over the field in anger. About 1,400 riot police entered the field to stop the chaos and sent the fans back to the gallery. After a break of about half an hour, the match resumed, with Kaiserslautern scoring a thrilling goal in the 120th minute.

A statement from Mannheim police said that 33 federal police officers and two state police officers were slightly injured in the clashes. 85 people needed first aid and 8 were taken to hospital in serious condition.

German authorities have launched multiple investigations following the unprecedented violence on the pitch. Several cases have also been opened for assault on police, damage to the stadium, disruption of order and violation of the explosives law.