Former Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra has condemned a banner held by Schalke supporters during Saturday s Revierderby that apparently showed support for the bomb attack on Dortmund s team bus two years ago.
Schalke won 4-2 at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, as Dortmund had captain Marco Reus and defender Marius Wolf sent off for second-half lunges on Suat Serdar and saw their Bundesliga title hopes fade significantly.
But a famous victory inspired by two Daniel Caligiuri goals was marred by the appearance of a banner among the travelling supporters that read Still a bombing [good] idea, freedom for Sergej W .
Sergej W was the identifying name publicly given to the man convicted of 28 counts of attempted murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison after targeting Dortmund s squad with three explosions ahead of their April 2017 Champions League quarter-final match against Monaco.
Retweeting a post reporting the Schalke banner, Real Betis centre-back Bartra – who was hospitalised by the attack and underwent surgery on a fractured wrist – strongly condemned those responsible.
Intolerable, unacceptable and sad, he tweeted.
A football rivalry is one thing [but] it is another to demand the freedom of someone who played with the lives of 28 people.
Intolerable, inaceptable y triste. Espero que la autoridad pertinente tome las medidas adecuadas ante este hecho. Una cosa es la rivalidad en el fútbol y otra es pedir libertad de alguien que jugó con la vida de 28 personas.
— Marc Bartra (@MarcBartra)
Schalke supporters could also face scrutiny after Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the away end when celebrating Mario Gotze s 14th minute opener.
The England international was off the field receiving treatment during the incident that led to Schalke s 18th-minute penalty – converted by Caligiuri after a VAR handball review controversially went against Julian Weigl.
When the penalty was awarded, Sancho received treatment on the sideline after being hit by a lighter from the crowd, Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre told Sky.
It really wasn t a good performance from the referee. Too much has happened today.
Dortmund fans similarly faced criticism for their conduct after a large banner containing a homophobic slur was unveiled on the Yellow Wall terrace.
