Union Berlin supporters vented their frustration over the Bundesliga’s financial plans by throwing chocolate coins and tennis balls on the pitch during their away game in Bochum.
However, Bochum striker Takuma Asano saw the funny side of the protest, and elected to eat one of the chocolate coins – before scoring his side’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time.
Union Berlin went on to lose the game 3-0, suffering back-to-back defeats after Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
In his post-match interview with Sky Germany, Asano revealed: ‘I saw the chocolate and ate it. The chocolate energized me, so it was a good decision.’
The German Football League (DFL) has decided to allow a private equity investor for the next 20 years, an issue that had sparked backlash from fans of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs.
The DFL insisted they were looking to boost its business model and international marketing with the €1bn (£859.6m) income, with the investor having no say in sporting matters – but there were still protests across the country, including at Bochum, with their fans displaying a banner hitting out at the league’s plan.
Union Berlin fans threw tennis balls and chocolate coins on the pitch, briefly interrupting the game in the 12th minute while the game was still goalless – but Asano took it in his stride, with footage of him picking one of the sweet treats up off the grass, before unwrapping it and eating it.
Asano, 29, proceeded to score the game’s first goal five minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Goncalo Paciencia and a Kevin Stoger penalty ensured that Bochum ran out 3-0 winners, moving them to 13th in the Bundesliga table, while Union Berlin sat 16th.
Stoger credited the whole team post-match for their creditable play, but on the subject of the chocolate coins, added: ‘I definitely would have had one too if it brought me good luck.’
Union Berlin was joined in their protests by the Bochum fans, who also displayed a banner hitting out at the Bundesliga for their plan.
Borussia Monchengladbach fans also threw chocolate coins during their draw with Werder Bremen on Friday night, in addition to 12 minutes of silence at the beginning of the match, contrary to the usual passion shown by German football fans in the stands.
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