The Hamburg defender Toni Leistner is set to face disciplinary action after climbing into the stands to confront Dynamo Dresden fans following his side’s 4-1 defeat in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup.
A video clip widely shared on social media shows Leistner, who joined the 2. Bundesliga club from QPR last month, shoving a Dresden fan over on a concourse at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion and arguing with others seated nearby, before heading back down the steps.
Unbelievable scenes as Hamburg were knocked out by Dresden in the Cup pic.twitter.com/TWtXEM7NxI
— Andrew Cesare (@AndrewCesare) September 14, 2020
Further footage shows Leistner conducting a post-match interview as Dresden fans chant nearby, before climbing into the stand. The 30-year-old played for Dresden between 2010 and 2014. More than 10,000 fans had attended the match, the biggest crowd in Germany since the coronavirus outbreak began in March.
The incident capped an evening to forget for HSV’s new coach, Daniel Thioune, as his second-tier side were outplayed by third-division opponents. Goals from Yannick Stark, Robin Becker and Christoph Daferne put the hosts 3-0 up before the hour mark.
The substitute Amadou Onana pulled one back for Hamburg in the 89th minute before Sebastian Mai’s stoppage-time penalty – awarded against Leistner for a handball – restored the visitors’ three-goal deficit.
“The result is very disappointing for us,” Thioune said afterwards. “On Friday we have the chance to put it right in the league.” The club are yet to officially comment on the incident involving Leistner.
Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham scored on his competitive Borussia Dortmund debut as they won 5-0 at Duisburg, with Jadon Sancho also on the scoresheet in their first-round tie.
After Sancho had opening the scoring with his 14th-minute spot-kick, Bellingham, signed from Birmingham, finished well from Thorgan Hazard’s pass with half an hour played. Hazard put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes later after Duisburg’s Dominic Volkmer was sent off. Gio Reyna and Marco Reus added to the scoreline in the second half.
