Schalke players were attacked by their own fans when returning from Bielefeld after getting relegated from the Bundesliga.
Gelsenkirchen police confirmed they were on site at the Veltins Arena as footage published on social media showed that fans chased some of the club’s players on the stadium perimeters, and though police could not confirm the authenticity of the video, sources told ESPN those scenes were from early Wednesday morning
On Tuesday, a 1-0 defeat at Arminia Bielefeld saw Schalke relegated for the first time in 30 years. With only four matches left, the Royal Blues are 13 points off the relegation playoff place.
Police were present as fan groups and the Schalke squad met for a “short notice exchange,” the club said in a statement released on Wednesday.
Gelsenkirchen police said in a statement, also released on Wednesday, that “500 to 600 people” waited for the team at the Veltins Arena. When the players left the team bus “eggs were thrown at them and they were verbally abused,” the police added.
“Police were on site with strong force and were able to prevent a further escalation,” the statement said, adding that investigations were still ongoing and “criminal as well as administrative offence procedures have been initiated.”
“Some of our players had to spend the night in a hotel,” Schalke sporting executive Peter Knabel said. “It’s an absolute no-go. The most important thing now: How are the players? How are the staff?”
