About 100 people, including 35 police officers, were injured after violent fan incidents marred the 2026 German Cup first-round clash between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern on Friday night.

The match, which had been classified as a high-risk fixture because of the fierce rivalry between the supporters of the two clubs, was halted for about 30 minutes towards the end of regulation time after tensions escalated inside the stadium. Blueprint reports

Despite the disruption, the game eventually resumed and Kaiserslautern secured a dramatic 1-0 victory after Ibrahim Kanate scored in the 120th minute of extra time.

Fans storm pitch after flares fired

According to local police, trouble began after supporters in the Kaiserslautern section reportedly fired flares towards the main stand.

Home supporters responded by invading the pitch, forcing authorities to intervene and temporarily suspend the match.

Police said a total of 85 people required medical attention following the incidents, with eight of those injured taken to hospital for further treatment.

The injuries reportedly involved both supporters and members of the security forces, with police confirming that 35 officers were among those injured.

The confrontation created chaotic scenes inside the stadium as officers moved onto the pitch in an attempt to separate the rival supporters and prevent the violence from spreading.

Massive police intervention

The police response involved a major operation, with officers using physical measures to push individuals back towards the home supporters’ section.

The authorities had deployed almost 1,400 police officers for the fixture because of concerns over possible clashes between the two sets of supporters.

The heavy security presence reflected the history of tension surrounding meetings between the clubs, which are located only about 50 kilometres apart.

Despite the extensive preparations, the incidents demonstrated the difficulty of preventing confrontations when rival supporters become involved in violent exchanges.

The match eventually resumed following what police described as a “massive police intervention” on the pitch.

Kaiserslautern secure dramatic win

After the lengthy interruption, the two teams returned to football action with the score still locked at 0-0.

Neither side was able to find a decisive breakthrough during the remaining regulation time, sending the German Cup tie into extra time.

With the possibility of penalties approaching, Kaiserslautern finally broke the deadlock in the 120th minute.

Ibrahim Kanate scored the decisive goal to send the visitors through with a dramatic 1-0 victory.

The late winner provided a memorable conclusion to a match that had been overshadowed by the scenes of disorder in the stands.

For Kaiserslautern, the result means progression to the next round of the German Cup, while Waldhof Mannheim were left to reflect on a defeat compounded by the serious crowd trouble.

Security concerns overshadow football

The violence has once again highlighted the security challenges surrounding high-risk football fixtures in Germany.

The deployment of nearly 1,400 police officers had been intended to prevent clashes and maintain order, but the incidents still resulted in dozens of injuries and a significant interruption to the game.

The fact that eight people required hospital treatment has further raised concerns about the consequences of supporter violence.

While the match eventually reached its conclusion, the images of police officers, including mounted officers, on the pitch as supporters were pushed back are likely to remain the defining images of the encounter.

Authorities are expected to assess the circumstances surrounding the disorder and determine whether further measures or sanctions will be necessary following the fixture.

For German football, the incident serves as another reminder of the challenges faced by clubs and security agencies in managing high-risk fixtures where longstanding rivalries can quickly escalate into violence.