Hamburg have been relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time ever, despite beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 on the final day of the season.
With Wolfsburg winning 4-1 at home to Koln, Hamburg’s fate was sealed with a section of the home fans at the Volksparkstadion stopping the game late on, courtesy of a dramatic display of fireworks and flares which were hurled onto the pitch.
The local police were no doubt primed for such a protest from the fans, quickly swarming onto the pitch in front of the offending fans.
The players were then ushered off the pitch in sad scenes for the only ever-present side left in the Bundesliga.
Chaos descends on Hamburg…
Their match is halted in the 90th minute as a section of fans react to the first Bundesliga relegation in the club’s history. pic.twitter.com/U3Qn0H9I1y
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 12, 2018
Don’t know what to say about what’s just happened now.
So here goes. Pyro. Game stopped, literally the wh!le stadium chants: “We are the people of Hamburg, and you’re not” towards that section of the north stand #HSVBMG pic.twitter.com/XzXVeg5Cyq
— Felix Tamsut (@ftamsut) May 12, 2018
A rather send end to an incredible run in the top-flight for Die Rothosen.
Alas, their famous stadium clock, which counted the time the club had been in the Bundesliga, will now be re-set to zero.
All a far cry from 1983 and that Felix Magath-inspired 1-0 European Cup final win over Juventus.