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Chaos on the football pitch: police operation after the U-16 match in Vienna
There was a fist fight and police intervention at a U-16 football game in Vienna. Two players were given 32-week bans. More about the background and reactions in the article.
Chaos on the football pitch: police operation after the U-16 match in Vienna
Last weekend, at a U-16 league football game in Vienna, there was a visible incident that went beyond the limits of sporting competition. An exciting match between DSG Pötzleinsdorf and Teco 7 not only ended with a clear 8-2 win for the guests, but also included a series of dramatic events, including three red cards, a pack formation and a police operation.
The game took place on November 17th in Brigittenau, and despite the few spectators who attended the match, the game left a lasting impression. A heated argument in the 88th minute resulted in a punch, which ultimately led to an injury. A 15-year-old player was slightly injured, while a 16-year-old man acting as a "folder" became a suspect and was questioned by police.
Details of the incident
According to witness reports obtained by various media outlets, the incident occurred after a foul by the home player. A Teco 7 player, who was currently in the role of steward, is said to have intervened in the argument, which led to the physical altercation. Although the referee did not see any serious incidents, the police were alerted and accepted a report of assault.
The Teco 7 club made an official statement and confirmed that the match was fought hard by both teams, which was reflected in several cards. A total of three red cards were awarded, which was interpreted as a sign of the intense style of play. A police spokeswoman added that the incident also called emergency services into action.
Consequences for the players
After the incident, an investigation was launched by the Vienna Football Association. Despite the lack of clarity about exactly what happened, the decision was made to ban two players for a period of 32 weeks. For both of them, this sanction meant that they would not be allowed to take part in games again until June 30, 2025. However, the association will continue to examine the circumstances of the incident as it appears to be confronted with reports and witness statements presenting different perspectives.
This has led to an intensive discourse about fairness and safety in youth football. The referee who officiated the game only acknowledged minor altercations in the minutes and noted that at no point did any serious physical altercations occur.
How the situation progresses remains to be seen as both clubs and players must respond to upcoming trials. A commentary in the “Kurier” made it clear that the violence was also confirmed by the police and that the journalistic reporting on the incident was characterized by an unbiased observer.
Despite the incident, DSG Pötzleinsdorf remains strong in the competition and has positioned itself anything but badly this season, while Teco 7 remains combative, but also has to overcome internal challenges.