Bayern Munich is asking UEFA bosses to be more lenient and not to receive a severe punishment for the riots after the match with Real Madrid in the Champions League. On April 15, the German team won against the Spanish giants 4:3 in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, and after the match, journalists were injured during the violent joy of the home fans. The incident occurred due to the invasion of the pitch by Bayern fans, who broke through the dividing barriers after the final referee's signal, Gong.bg reported.
Four of the photographers located in certain media areas on the sidelines were injured. They were surrounded by the crowd with no opportunity to retreat. One of them suffered a broken head and another required emergency medical treatment for injuries including back and shoulder injuries. The most seriously injured was Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach, who was knocked to the ground and briefly lost consciousness after being trampled by fans.
UEFA immediately launched an investigation into the incident, which could lead to several penalties for Bayern. The club will certainly be fined a huge amount, and it is likely that the home leg against PSG in the Champions League semi-finals will be played behind closed doors.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund commented on the incident and expressed hope that the harshest punishment would not be imposed.
„There was a lot of emotion and chaos at the end of the match. We are very sorry that journalists were injured. The club is in contact with them, as well as with the relevant authorities. It was a very emotional evening with an unusual turn of events. "This shouldn't have happened. Our stadium provides safety and an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. We are not worried and hope that we can play the next game in front of our fans," said Christoph Freund.