The fans in Düsseldorf’s Merkur Spiel-Arena didn’t get to see many of the goal-area scenes during the game between Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1. FC Heidenheim. It was not only because of the lack of opportunities that the arena in the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia was not in the mood for a top game.
This also had to do with the fact that the stadium was only about half full. And the 26,827 spectators were distributed rather unequally in the stands. If the Fortuna curve was still well occupied, the 400 FCH fans on the otherwise empty side of the stadium could well have felt a bit lost.
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Beer mug flies out of the block of Fortuna fans
But the numerically inferior Heidenheimer not only drew attention to themselves with songs. Shortly before the start of the game, several pyrotechnic flares blazed in the guest block. The stadium announcer asked the fans in friendly words not to ignite. There were whistles from the Fortuna supporters, a few had a borderline answer.
A well-filled beer mug flew just past Niklas Beste from a corner kick by FCH – other small objects followed. Again the stadium announcer had to speak warningly. And that had an effect: In the further course it no longer flickered and nothing more flew. Just the ball on the field.
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1. FC Heidenheim at Fortuna Dusseldorf
