Shocking scenes at junior football in Berlin: the Turkish-born father of a player stormed the pitch, choked his son’s 14-year-old opponent and then pulled out a knife. He shouted, “I’ll stab you.” The attack took place during the C-junior match between Turkish-dominated Berliner AK and SC Staaken. It was played on the George Floyd sports field. The pitch in the Post Stadium is named after the Afro-American who was killed by a white policeman.
The attack was allegedly caused by a kick by the Staaken player, who had previously been fouled by the son. The 47-year-old man then went berserk, violently threw the child to the ground and choked him. According to the police report, he then pulled out a knife and threatened other fathers who rushed to help. The armed man shouted “I’m going to stab you”. By then the score was already 2:0 for SC Staaken.
Afterwards, riots broke out. Shocked spectators called the police. A short time later, officers arrested the still raging father. Now the public prosecutor’s office is investigating the man of Turkish origin for dangerous bodily harm and attempted dangerous bodily harm.
His victim, the 14-year-old boy, had suffered a bruise on his neck. “He is doing well. I am still shaken. I have never seen or experienced anything like this, especially at a junior match. Who brings a knife to a junior match?”, Staaken youth director Michael Grässner told the tabloid Bild.
The match was abandoned and will probably be scored in favour of SC Staaken. Berliner AK would like to forego a replay.
