DFB Court Rules in Favor of Bochum Over Union Berlin in Precedent-Setting Case

The Bundesliga match, originally a 1-1 draw, is officially recorded as a 2-0 Bochum victory following a fan's attack on the Bochum goalkeeper.

The German Football Association's (DFB) Federal Court upheld a decision to award VfL Bochum a 2-0 victory over Union Berlin after a fan threw a lighter at Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes during their December match.
The ruling marks the first time in Bundesliga history that fan misconduct has led to the retroactive reclassification of a match result despite the game being completed on the field.
Union Berlin has announced plans to challenge the decision further by appealing to the Permanent Arbitration Court, arguing that the ruling misapplies DFB regulations and sets a problematic precedent.
The decision impacts the Bundesliga standings, giving Bochum two additional points critical in their fight against relegation, while Union Berlin loses a point, dropping in the table.
The court emphasized the severity of the incident, citing the injury to Drewes and Bochum's inability to field a proper goalkeeper as justification for the ruling, with broader implications for addressing fan violence in football.