Kohfeldt's anger after cup victory: Insults don't belong in the stadium!

Kohfeldt's anger after cup victory: Insults don't belong in the stadium!

After the Darmstadt 98 soccer team triumphed 2-1 in the DFB Cup game against VfB Lübeck, there was not only celebration, but also some critical voices. After the game, coach Florian Kohfeldt was visibly annoyed by insults that were directed at his players from the stands. These incidents not only reflect the heated atmosphere of the game, but also shed light on the responsibility that spectators have in the stadium. fr.de reports that Kohfeldt cannot accept that children sit near the coaching bench and have to hear such inappropriate comments. “That leaves a bad aftertaste,” said the coach, who also pointed out red-worthy attacks against his players Kai Klefisch and Fraser Hornby.

The referee of the game, Leonidas Exuzidis from Castrop-Rauxel, ensured that the insults were not punished with cards, but only free kicks were given against the attackers. Although minor conflicts arose in the coaching area, according to Kohfeldt, they were not serious in terms of the game atmosphere.

A successful game

In terms of sport, however, the Lilies showed their best side. In the first half, Matej Maglica gave Darmstadt the lead in the 34th minute with a header from a corner. In the second half, Clemens Riedel, who came on as a right-back, made it 2-0 with a precise cross to Fraser Hornby. Lübeck only scored in stoppage time through Pierre Becken. Overall, Darmstadt's performance was described as “not brilliant, but confident”. Goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen rarely had to intervene in critical situations, in contrast to the more intense second division games before. fr.de

Kohfeldt paid tribute to the Lübeck team for their courageous appearance and high intensity throughout the game, which should not go unmentioned at this point.

The big picture

But what do such games really mean? The conflicts on the pitch are often only part of the bigger picture. In simple terms, they can be viewed as “assets” for the players and the club. An asset is a resource that has monetary value and can be used. In football, the players, their performances and ultimately the successes on the pitch are what make a club valuable. A distinction is made between different types of “assets”, from current (such as cash and receivables) to long-term assets (such as player salaries or transfers) and intangible assets (club brand value). investopedia.com

In the heat of competition lies a completely different dimension of football: it's not just about victory or defeat, but also about the value that a team represents on the field and beyond.

All in all, it was a game with light and shadow, a mix of emotions on and off the pitch. A day on which Leipzig and Darmstadt were able to show a lot both as a team and on an individual level - and gave the audience an instructive reminder of the responsibility that everyone in the stadium bears.