At least 120 people were injured, including 35 police officers, in violent clashes between rival fans at a German cup match in Mannheim. The game, between SV Waldhof Mannheim and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, was halted after supporters threw cups and flares, invaded the pitch, and set fire to a display in the away end.
Violence erupts at Carl-Benz-Stadium
The match took place on August 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the sold-out Carl-Benz-Stadium in Mannheim, as part of the first round of the DFB Cup. According to organizers, around 23,500 spectators attended, including approximately 3,500 away fans. The game exploded into violence when Mannheim-supporting thugs invaded the pitch, prompting Kaiserslautern fans to retaliate by setting fire to a display they had brought into the stadium. Firefighters were called to put out the blaze.
In total, 85 fans required medical attention, with several still remaining in hospital, while 35 police officers were also injured in the on-pitch skirmish. The match finished 1-0 after Kaiserslautern’s Ibrahim Kanate scored a winner deep in extra time.
Police describe 'explosive encounter'
A police spokesperson described the clash as an "explosive encounter" and said: "The intensive preparation by all participating institutions and the close cooperation of all involved have paid off. Our tactical concept worked perfectly."
"A total of approximately 1,400 police officers were deployed. In addition to the Mannheim Police Headquarters' own forces, colleagues from the Operational Support Unit at various locations, as well as police forces from Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and the Federal Police, were also involved in the operation." "33 federal police officers and two police officers from Baden-Württemberg have sustained minor injuries."
Long-standing rivalry
The rivalry between the two clubs dates back to 1983, when Mannheim reached the German top flight. With their own ground deemed unsuitable, the side elected to move their home matches across the Rhine to Ludwigshafen, a region that Kaiserslautern considered part of its traditional support base. Club officials viewed the move as an invasion, with club president Udo Sopp reportedly branding it a "declaration of war".
The dispute soon spread to the terraces as the nearby clubs battled for supporters and local bragging rights, with hooligan firms at the two sides often seeking each other out for bouts of extreme violence.
