BERLIN: Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim players spent the final 15 minutes of their Bundesliga game farcically playing the ball among themselves and even exchanging passes with the opposition as they wound down the clock after Hoffenheim’s billionaire backer was insulted by away fans on Saturday.

Bayern were already leading 6-0, but the goal-fest was over as both sides agreed not to compete in the teeming rain after an offensive banner insulting Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp was unfurled in the Bayern block of fans.

Bayern players and coaching staff reacted with fury to the insults targeting Hopp from their own fans, and they remonstrated angrily with the travelling supporters on both occasions that referee Christian Dingert suspended play.

They refused to play competitively in protest against the supporters actions once the game resumed for the second time, ending in with an ovation for Hopp and with Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge by the billionaire’s side in a show of solidarity.

Hopp has been a lightning rod for some German fans, who oppose the way he used his wealth to help Hoffenheim climb through the lower leagues to the Bundesliga with consecutive promotions more than a decade ago.

A similar insulting banner led to a Borussia Dortmund fans’ ban in Hoffenheim for two seasons and a 50,000 euro fine earlier this month.

“I am deeply ashamed for the behaviour of these people. That is inexcusable. It is the ugly face of football,” Rummenigge told reporters.

“I have apologised to Dietmar Hopp. We have filmed everything and these people will be held accountable. The way these people behaved today they have absolutely no place in a football stadium. It was a big sign the way the players did it in the end. They had discussed it with the referee. There is a process provided by the football association and I think it is good.”

Up until that point the game had gone smoothly for the Bundesliga leaders, who were without injured top scorer Robert Lewandowski.

His absence was not felt when Serge Gnabry volleyed them ahead in the second minute. Joshua Kimmich doubled the advantage five minutes later and Joshua Zirkzee made it 3-0 with a clever turn and shot.

Philippe Coutinho scored either side of the break and Leon Goretzka completed the rout in the 62nd but Hoffenheim had thrown in the towel long before the game ended on a sour note following the interruption.

Bayern are on 52 points, provisionally four ahead of RB Leipzig. Borussia Dortm­und are third on goal difference following their nervous 1-0 victory over Freiburg.

Dortmund grabbed the lead through Jadon Sancho in the 15th minute, with the Englishman converting a pinpoint assist from Thorgan Hazard to bring up his 14th goal of the season. Freiburg went close to finding the equaliser in a nervous final 15 minutes for the home side, however Dortmund’s defence held firm.

Borussia Moenchen­gladbach captain Lars Stindl scored twice in their 3-2 away win at Augsburg to stay fourth on 46 points as misfiring Schalke 04 slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Cologne to lose further touch with the top spots.

David Wagner’s team, in sixth place on 36, have now scored just one goal in their last six league games and conceded eight in the last two.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2020