Goalkeeper Injured as Firecracker Disrupts German 3. Liga Match

A German 3. Liga match between Rot-Weiss Essen and SV Waldhof Mannheim was marred by violence on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, when a firecracker thrown from the stands injured Rot-Weiss Essen goalkeeper Felix Wienand. The incident caused a significant delay and raised concerns about safety at the Stadion Essen.

Incident Details

During the 52nd minute of the match, a firecracker was reportedly thrown from the section occupied by SV Waldhof Mannheim fans according to Sportschau. The explosive detonated near Wienand, causing him to cover his ears and fall to the ground. Medical staff immediately attended to the goalkeeper.

Match Suspension and Restart

Referee Lennart Kernchen initially suspended play while Wienand received treatment. Both teams temporarily left the pitch. After a delay of nearly 50 minutes, and following consultations with both teams’ managers, the match resumed as reported by Sportschau. However, Wienand was unable to continue and was replaced by Tino Casali.

Match Result and Player Ejection

Despite the disruption, Rot-Weiss Essen secured a 1-0 victory, with Marek Janssen scoring the winning goal in the 31st minute according to SofaScore. SV Waldhof Mannheim’s Terrence Boyd was shown a red card in the 65th minute, further compounding a difficult evening for the visitors.

Wienand’s Condition and Club Statements

Felix Wienand was taken to a hospital following the incident and diagnosed with “acoustic trauma and significant hearing loss” as stated by Sportschau. He will be unavailable for Rot-Weiss Essen’s upcoming match against Hoffenheim II on Saturday.

Rot-Weiss Essen manager Uwe Koschinat expressed concern for Wienand’s health, stating, “Our thoughts are with Felix. He is really not doing well. It is about the player’s health, which was deliberately jeopardized today. We hope that he does not suffer any long-term damage, because that is certainly a concern in such a situation.”

SV Waldhof Mannheim sporting director Mathias Schober also offered well wishes to Wienand and condemned the incident, saying, “Felix, secure well soon. We can only hope he recovers quickly. This kind of behavior has no place in a football match or any stadium. I hope those responsible will be held accountable. The events must be investigated. We will do so.”

Investigation and Accountability

Authorities are expected to investigate the incident and identify those responsible for throwing the firecracker. Both clubs have called for accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.