Union Berlin announce final appeal in case of disputed Bochum match: “Precedents, not politics.” | OneFootball

Very harsh words were exchanged from both sides after a controversial ruling on a Bundesliga fixture was issued earlier today. Lawyers representing both Union Berlin and VfL Bochum attacked each other verbally. Bochum managing director Ilja Kaenzig and Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler both joined the fray.

The final word in this messy dispute has not yet been spoken. Union have one last appeal option to exhaust. The Köpenick club immediately announced that they would appeal to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Zingler – present at the proceedings – immediately made his feeling known.

“Today we witnessed proceedings in which the misconduct of a spectator has led to a game being re-scored for the very first time,” Zingler said. “And this despite the game being properly ended by the referee.

“We believe that the goal was to set a precedent,” Zingler continued. “[Instead], VfL Bochum and the control committee asked the court to send a political signal. We are thus forced to push back against political pressure and appeal to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“To sanction spectator misconduct by ways of a match ruling is shocking,” Zingler concluded. “It is not about a political signals, but about the legal and procedural order. Otherwise, we will no longer have a neutral [judicial] institutions.”

Essentially, Zingler correctly noted that the ruling issued by the German federal court aimed to curtail the use of pyrotechnics in German football venues. It remains the case that the arguments of a dangerous anti-competitive precedent were trumped by the “political” signal. This will doubtless form the basis of Union’s final appeal.

Bochum lawyer Patrick Schickhardt vehemently responded to Zingler after the Union President referenced Schickhardt and DFB control committee chairman Anton Nachreiner. Bochum sporting director Kaenzig seemed almost apologetic in his response to the ruling.

“[Union and Zingler] have belittled this incident from the very start,” Schickhardt said. “This is disgraceful and improper. The president [Zingler] is allowed to react emotionally, but as a lawyer, that’s not okay.“

“It is still extremely regrettable that this incident and the resulting proceedings occurred at all,” Kaenzig said. “but we still believe that a further increase in this scourge [of pyrotechnics] can only be prevented by taking the strictest possible action.”

GGFN | Peter Weis