Bochum‑Hertha BSC 2. Bundesliga opener halted by fan banner

On 7 August 2026 the opening match of the 2. Bundesliga season between VfL Bochum and Hertha BSC was interrupted after Hertha supporters displayed a banner that covered a stadium escape gate. The stadium announcer asked the Berlin fans to remove the banner, warning that the game would be stopped if they did not. Referee Wolfgang Haslberger halted play in the 21st minute, first speaking with the captains Timo Horn and Josip Brekalo. After roughly six minutes the fans rolled up the banner, allowing the match to resume. The incident mirrors earlier disruptions at the Ruhrstadium caused by fan banners, including previous cases involving supporters from Stuttgart and Mönchengladbach. The banner bore the slogan “Das Relikt des Arbeiterclubs: Wir malochen, ihr kassiert.”