- Hamburg fans stormed the Volksparkstadion after securing their promotion
- The fallen German giants beat SSV Ulm 6-1 to secure a finish in the top two spots
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A pitch invasion to celebrate a German fallen giant’s return to the Bundesliga has seen at least 25 people rushed to hospital, according to reports.
Hamburg’s stay in the 2nd Bundesliga in Germany has come to an end after a blistering 6-1 thrashing of SSV Ulm at the Volksparkstadion, taking them four points clear of third with a game to play.
Naturally, the momentous occasion was met with jubilation from the fans, who stormed the field to celebrate their return to the upper echelons of German football.
But joy quickly turned to chaos, with the mass pitch invasion leaving many injured, and a major rescue operation was reportedly launched.
According to German outlet Berliner Tageszeitung, one person was left with ‘life-threatening’ injuries, 19 were seriously harmed and a further five supporters had sustained minor injuries.
Footage from the ground shows fans jumping from the stands, mounting advertising hoardings and sprinting across the field towards the players.
Thousands flooded the field as Hamburg secured their return to the Bundesliga on Saturday
Around 25 supporters were injured with one sustaining life-threatening injuries according to reports
The fallen giants earned their promotion bac to the top flight after seven years away
A fire department spokesperson has also reportedly added that several fans were hurt leaping from the stands.
A total of 44 people are thought to have received on-site medical treatment, with around 65 firefighters and emergency responders on the scene.
Reports from BlueWin also claim that some frenzied supporters even tried to make it into the dressing rooms, but were stopped by police.
The outlet also states that the emergency services were already spread thin as a result of the 836th Hafengeburtstag festival and a concert at the nearby Barclays Arena.
Numerous videos and clips emerged on social media, including one with fans sat bouncing on the crossbar on the field, where some had set off flares.
The crossbar then collapses as roughly seven fans fall to the ground on top of the woodwork.
Pictures also showed supporters digging up patches of the turf at the Volksparkstadion, while others cut snippets out of the nets in the goals.
The 1983 European Cup winners, once nicknamed the Bundesliga ‘dinosaurs’ for having been in the top division for the longest uninterrupted spell since the league’s creation in 1963, suffered a shock first ever relegation in 2018.
Fans could be seen digging up patches of the turf at the Volksparkstadion after the game
Fans set off flares on the field and some can be seen carrying the goal through the crowd
Some frenzied supporters could be seen sat astride the club’s goals amid the pitch invasion
They then repeatedly missed chances to go back up, losing key matches in the final stretches of previous seasons, but they would not be denied promotion this time.
Ulm stunned the hosts with a seventh minute lead through Tom Gaal but Hamburg bounced back just three minutes later to level with Ludovit Reis.
Ulm then saw Semir Telalovic’ 36th minute penalty saved by Hamburg keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes before the hosts struck twice late in the first half through Ransford-Yeboah Koenigsdoerffer’s superb chip and Davie Selke’s 22nd league goal to earn a commanding lead.
They picked up where they left off and made it 4-1 thanks to Philipp Strompf’s own goal in the 49th before Konigsdorffer bagged his second with a solo effort and low drive from the edge of the box.
Daniel Efadli made it half a dozen in the 86th as fans gathered around the pitch to storm it on the final whistle.
With one game remaining, Hamburg are top on 59 points, with Cologne second on 58 and Elversberg third on 55.
