The meeting point was scheduled in the morning. It should start early to arrive in time for the game at 1. FC Union in Berlin, around 530 kilometers away. The departure of several hundred members of the active FC Schalke 04 fan scene was delayed – before the coaches left Gelsenkirchen-Schalke on Sunday morning there was a brutal attack by supporters who, according to a press release from the Gelsenkirchen police, “probably from the environment of the fan scene of Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Dortmund”.

The attack by around 100 violent people apparently took place at 6:22 a.m. “There was a mass brawl in which, among other things, baseball bats and other striking tools were used,” says the police report: “The attacking people had already left before the officers arrived. At least four people were seriously injured in the altercation, including a bus driver.”

Rescue workers treated the injured at the scene. They were then taken to a hospital for inpatient treatment. The police, who brought together emergency services from across the Ruhr area, are investigating breaches of the peace and dangerous bodily harm.

Particularly explosive: Apparently the hooligans from Rot-Weiss-Essen and Dortmund had arranged to meet for the robbery – on Sunday RWE is playing against the second team of BVB.

Schalke 04 also confirmed the incident and responded with a statement: “According to the information currently available to us, there was a targeted attack on FC Schalke 04 fans this morning, shortly before leaving for Berlin. As stated in the mission statement, Schalke 04 condemns all forms of violence and wishes the injured a full recovery. Meanwhile, the buses are on their way to support the team in the away game against Union Berlin.”