Schalke 04 players and employees had been attacked with eggs and had been threatened by their very own fans Wednesday after a 1-0 defeat by Arminia Bielefeld sealed their relegation from the Bundesliga for the primary time in 33 years. Schalke`s twenty first league defeat of the season on Tuesday ensured the `Royal Blues` don’t have any hope of escaping the drop of their last 4 video games of the season.
Upon their return to the Schalke stadium early on Wednesday they had been met by about 500 to 600 fans and had been scheduled to briefly talk about the state of affairs with them.Â
“Within the framework of this meeting there were some still unidentified individuals who clearly stepped over lines that are non-negotiable for Schalke,” the club mentioned in an announcement.
Gelsenkirchen police mentioned fans had already began lighting fireworks and flares across the stadium instantly after the tip of the sport.Â
Unbelievable scenes as Schalke 04 fans are chasing their very own players after the club was relegated final evening. pic.twitter.com/8JCb9nHBXY
— Nicolai Lisberg (@NicolaiLisberg) April 21, 2021
“Once the team arrived and stepped off the bus there were severe protests,” police mentioned in an announcement. “Eggs were thrown at the players who were also verbally attacked.”
It mentioned a powerful police presence on website was mobilised to keep away from any escalation.
Schalke are among the many most fiercely supported golf equipment in Germany and usually draw greater than 60,000 fans to residence video games.
“While there is understandable frustration and anger for the relegation, the club will never accept it when the physical integrity of its players and staff is put in danger,” Schalke mentioned. “The club sharply condemns this behaviour and naturally supports its staff.”
Having gone via 5 coaches within the present marketing campaign, Schalke, Bundesliga runners-up as not too long ago as 2018, have conceded 76 objectives, greater than every other staff in a complete season since 2000.
This is Schalke`s fourth relegation total and the primary since 1988. The club have gained the German title seven occasions, the final of which got here in 1958, however have but to be topped champions for the reason that introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963.
