German match delayed as Frankfurt fans protest Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg

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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg was briefly interrupted Sunday as home fans continued protests against outside investors by targeting the visiting club.

The second half had started just minutes before Frankfurt supporters threw small plastic balls onto the field behind one of the goals. At least one small plastic pig was also thrown, landing beside one of the goal posts.

The fans also held a giant banner criticizing Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg with an expletive, saying the "investor club" should be excluded from the German soccer federation (DFB).

The game was held up for around six minutes while the items were removed before play resumed with Wolfsburg leading 2-1.

Omar Marmoush scored in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Frankfurt.

The home team's supporters were objecting to Wolfsburg's status in contrast to their own, where fans have a majority say in how the club is run.

The multi-sport club VfL Wolfsburg was founded in 1945, only seven years after the city of Wolfsburg was itself founded for Volkswagen factory workers.

Wolfsburg is still backed by the German auto manufacturer, one of only two exceptions to the German soccer league's 50-plus-1 rule that limits how much of a club an outside investor can control. The rule states that members of a club need to retain control of voting rights – at least 50% and one vote.

Bayer Leverkusen is the other exception, as it was founded for Bayer factory workers. The pharmaceutical giant still owns the club. Both Wolfsburg and Leverkusen are granted exemptions from 50-plus-1 because they've had the same backers for more than 20 years.

Hoffenheim was another exception, but backer Dietmar Hopp transferred most of his voting rights back to the club last year to bring it in line with the rule.

Leipzig, which was founded by Red Bull in 2009, dealt with the 50-plus-1 rule by limiting membership to a select few members associated with the energy drinks manufacturer.

The rule was strengthened last year when it was cleared by the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office), but it remains a sticking point for supporters and club officials whose interests often divulge.

American investment group 777 Partners took over Hertha Berlin as its majority shareholder last year, but club members still retain the majority of voting rights.

The Frankfurt fans' protest on Sunday came despite the German soccer league (DFL) on Wednesday scrapping its controversial plan to bring in an outside investor for a share of media rights income.

The last two weekends had seen extensive protests across Germany's top two divisions because of that plan, and no further protests were expected after the DFL abandoned the idea.

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