2011–12 Hertha BSC season

Review and events

Overview of season

On 18 December, Hertha BSC fired head coach Markus Babbel after a disagreement with Michael Preetz. Preetz fired Babbel because there is no trust and so the club can "avert damage". Babbel he told Preetz that he would not sign a contract extension during the November international break while Preetz claim Babbel told him on 13 December. On 12 February, Hertha BSC fired Skibbe after losing all 5 matches in charge.

Hertha BSC vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf

The matches

Fortuna Düsseldorf won a spot in the promotion/relegation playoff against first division side Hertha BSC.

First leg

Going into the playoff, Fortuna Düsseldorf hadn't been in the top flight for 15 seasons. They won the first leg against Hertha BSC 1:2 in Berlin's Olympic Stadium from goals from Thomas Bröker and an own goal from Hertha BSC's Adrián Ramos.

Second leg

In the return leg in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, both teams drew 2-2. Fortuna Düsseldorf won on aggregate 4–3. Hertha BSC supporters did this after Fortuna Düsseldorf scored their second goal of the night to lead 2–1. The other problem of the night was when several Fortuna Düsseldorf supporters ran onto the field with about a minute left. It took 21 minutes to restore order and stoppage time ended up being 28 minutes by the time the final whistle blew. With Fortuna Düsseldorf winning the 2 legged affair, they returned to the Bundesliga after 15 seasons.

The appeal

Hertha BSC appealed the result of the match. The German Football Association will be meeting on 18 May 2012 to discuss the incidents of the second leg. The hearing at the German Football Association last for six hours. The panel's decision will not be known until a further meeting on Monday. It is expected to make a decision at 15:00 CET. The German Football Association stated that any possible disciplinary action against either club or any of the players will be taken at a later date. The players being investigated are Levan Kobiashvili, Christian Lell, Thomas Kraft and Andre Mijatović. 2nd leg referee Wolfgang Stark was a key witness at the first hearing at the German Football Association.

Sports law expert Michael Lehner said that Hertha BSC can hope for replay after the second leg of the promotion/relegation playoff. Lehner went on to state, "Is not the game has been properly placed on the principle of equal opportunity at the end there was a break in terms of game development" and "The team of Hertha BSC through the fault of third parties a real opportunity has been deprived of the game even. get why there should be a replay from a legal point of view".

The sports court of the German Football Association rejected the appeal of Hertha BSC. Hertha BSC will pay the cost of the proceedings. Hertha BSC appealed the decision of the German Football Association's sports court. Hertha BSC can appeal the decision to the Sports Court for Arbitration.

The disciplinary panel of the German Football Association decided that Fortuna Düsseldorf must play their first home match of next season with no fans for the fans running onto the field during the 2nd leg of the promotion/relegation playoff. The club was also hit with a six figure fine.

Other incidents

Another incident reported by Die Welt the next day was that Hertha BSC players attacked second leg referee Wolfgang Stark. The four players are accused of verbally and physically harassing the referee. Kobiashvili's suspension was reduced to seven and a half months and Lell's ban was eventually reduced to 5 matches.

Match results

Legend

Bundesliga

Note: Results are given with Hertha BSC score listed first.

Relegation play-off

As 16th-placed team, Hertha BSC faces the 3rd-placed 2011–12 2. Bundesliga side in a two-legged play-off. The winner on aggregate score after both matches will earn a spot in the 2012–13 Bundesliga.

Dates and times of these matches were determined by the Deutsche Fußball-Liga as following:

Ramos

Jovanović Raffael

DFB-Pokal

Note: Results are given with Hertha BSC score listed first.

Player information

Roster and statistics

Roster, goals and appearances

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Last updated:25 May 2012

Disciplinary action

: Disciplinary records for 2011–12 league matches. Players with 1 card or more included only. : Last updated on 5 May 2012

Summer Transfers

In: Out:

Winter transfers

In: Out:

Sources

References

1. (18 December 2011). "Hertha Berlin fire coach Markus Babbel". [[The Globe and Mail]].
2. (18 December 2011). "Babbels Entlassung beendet große Schlammschlacht". [[Die Welt]].
3. (12 February 2012). "Skibbe sacked by Hertha". SkySports.
4. Penfold, Chuck. (16 May 2012). "Düsseldorf take top flight spot, Berlin relegated". [[Deutsche Welle]].
5. (10 May 2012). "Die Bundesliga ist für Fortuna zum Greifen nahe". Kicker.
6. (15 May 2012). "Fortunas Wiedergeburt versinkt im Chaos". Kicker.
7. (16 May 2012). "Referee Stark von Hertha-Spielern attackiert". [[Die Welt]].
8. (16 May 2012). "Hertha BSC legt Protest gegen Skandalspiel ein". [[Die Welt]].
9. (16 May 2012). "Hertha legt Protest ein - Verhandlung am Freitag". kicker.
10. (16 May 2012). "Campino nennt möglichen Hertha-Protest "unanständig"".
11. (18 May 2012). "DFB delays decision on Hertha relegation". [[Deutsche Welle]].
12. (16 May 2012). "Hertha BSC kann auf Spielwiederholung hoffen". [[Die Welt]].
13. (21 May 2012). "Hertha scheitert und zieht vors DFB-Bundesgericht". [[Die Welt]].
14. (21 May 2012). "Einspruch abgewiesen: Doch Hertha geht vors Bundesgericht". [[Kicker (sports magazine).
15. (21 May 2012). "DFB rejects Hertha replay request". [[Deutsche Welle]].
16. (25 May 2012). "Hertha scheitert – Chaosspiel wird nicht wiederholt". [[Die Welt]].
17. (26 May 2012). "Herthaner im Urlaub, Fortunen noch nicht". kicker.
18. (12 June 2012). "DFB fordert "Geisterspiel" für Fortuna Düsseldorf". [[Die Welt]].
19. (19 May 2012). "Hertha entschuldigt sich, Düsseldorf trainiert wieder". [[Die Welt]].
20. (30 May 2012). "Kontrollausschuss fordert ein Jahr Sperre für Kobiashvili". [[Die Welt]].
21. (4 June 2012). "Siebeneinhalb Monate! Rekordstrafe für Kobiashvili". kicker.
22. (6 June 2012). "DFB-Sportgericht sperrt Lell für fünf Spiele". [[Kicker (sports magazine).
23. "DFL revises first-leg schedule for promotion/relegation play-offs". [[Deutsche Fußball Liga]].