- Fans threw chocolate coins on the pitch before Cologne vs Borussia Dortmund
- Protest stems from fan discontent over private equity investment in Bundesliga
- CHRIS SUTTON reveals which former team-mates were the teachers’ pets – It’s All Kicking Off
Kick off in the Bundesliga clash between Cologne and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday was delayed due to fan protest.
Supporters from both club’s showered the pitch at the RheinEnergieStadion with gold chocolate coins before kick-off, before joining together in protest chants.
Stewards and players from both teams worked to clear the playing surface before kick-off, with the game ultimately getting underway following a delay.
The protests follow on from similar demonstrations held prior to the league’s winter break, with supporters also throwing chocolate coins on the pitch prior to Bochum’s win over Union Berlin last month.
Discontent among supporters is derived from the German Football League’s (DFL) decision to allow a private equity investor for the next 20 years, sparking backlash from fans of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs.
The DFL insisted they were looking to boost its business model and international marketing with the €1bn (£859.6m) income, with the investor having no say in sporting matters but protests continued.
During the clash Dortmund fans unfurled banners reading ‘No to investors in the DFL’ and ‘German football remains risk capital.’
The hosts’ English language X account also noted that supporters remained silent during the early stages of the game as part of their protests.
The clash also marked Jadon Sancho’s first start in his return to Dortmund after joining the club on loan from Manchester United earlier this month.
Edin Terzic brought the former England international on off the bench in his side’s clash with Darmstadt last week, with Sancho producing an assist for Marco Reus in the club’s 3-0 triumph.
Dortmund currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga, eight points behind Bayern Munich in second and twelve behind Xabi Alonso’s still-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table.
