Turmoil in the relegation game: game abandoned after last-minute goal!

Turmoil in the relegation game: game abandoned after last-minute goal!

The relegation game between Eintracht Erle and RW Unna in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, 2025 came to an abrupt end. In the 118th minute, shortly after RW Unna scored a goal in the 117th minute to make it 1-2 and thus possibly secure promotion, the game was abandoned. Spectators stormed the pitch, causing a chaotic scene and forcing a referee, Ole Richter, to stop the game. An unsportsmanlike Eintracht Erle official who knocked down the referee's red card contributed to the escalation. The clear question remains whether RW Unna's goal actually counts for promotion or whether the decision ultimately lies with the sports court, as Soester Anzeiger reports.

RW Unna, the champions of the district league A2 Unna/Hamm, had previously lost a playoff against TuS Wiescherhöfen and therefore this victory was all the more important for them. They managed a 3-1 win in the first leg, which further strengthened their ambitions. However, those responsible and fans are now looking tensely at the possible rating of the game, because a rating against Eintracht Erle could only lead to another shock for the club.

Legal situation and possible consequences

In the context of the game, questions arise about the liability of spectators and the regulations that regulate conflicts during a game. According to Haufe, spectators who disrupt game operations must expect claims for damages. This legal situation is particularly relevant considering that similar incidents have resulted in penalties in the past. A DFB sports court can make a club pay for inadequate security, meaning that Eintracht Erle could also be financially affected.

There was recently a case in the Bundesliga that shows how seriously such incidents are taken. After spectators broke into the interior during a game, appropriate penalties were imposed. There, too, the reaction to the behavior of the spectators was decisive for the legal consequences and led to a fine for the club. Such a development can also play a role in the lower league, as in the case of Eintracht Erle.

Monitor further developments

In the football scene, the outcome of the negotiations about the rating of this game is crucial, not least for the clubs affected. The sports lawyer Paul Lambertz has previously expressed in a different context that the safety of the players must always be guaranteed and that referee decisions are inviolable. These points must also be discussed in the current case, as they can have a significant impact on the further course of the relegation and possibly even on promotion and relegation. As RBB 24 reported, the pressure for a clear clarification of the situation among the clubs could already be great, as the situation also affects other games and theirs could affect ratings.

The eyes are now on the decision of the sports court, which could also have a decisive influence on the further course of the relegation. It will be seen in the coming days whether the tumult on the pitch represents the end of a dream for Eintracht Erle or whether RW Unna can actually be promoted.