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'Disgraceful': Footballer wrestles fan in stands after 'verbal abuse'

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·2-min read
Hamburg's Toni Leistner (pictured left) confronting a fan after the match and (pictured right) dribbling the ball.
Hamburg's Toni Leistner (pictured left and right) confronting a fan after the match. (Twitter/Getty Images)

Hamburg's Toni Leistner has confronted a fan in the stands after his club’s clash with Dynamo Dresden on Monday after he alleged he was ‘verbally abused’.

The former QPR defender was conducting a post-match interview on the sideline when he spun around and charged into the stands.

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Several thousand fans are allowed into stadiums in Germany, during the coronavirus pandemic, and Leistner singled out one when he grabbed the opposing fan by the shirt and appeared to push him back.

Security and fans jumped in to calm the situation before it escalated.

Initially it was unclear what prompted the reaction, but revealed that his response was provoked by the verbal taunts from those in the crowd.

"After the match in my hometown, I was verbally abused from the stands. I can usually cope with it. But this was extremely and massively below the belt, against my family, my wife and my daughter," he wrote on Instagram.

"That's when I lost it, even more so because it was already an extremely emotional match for me. Regardless, this should have never happened to me.

“I am a father who wants to serve as a role model. I apologise in all forms and can only promise that - no matter what insults are thrown my way - this will never happen again."

Dresden slam alleged behaviour of fans

After the match, Dresden were quick to condemn the fans responsible for provoking the incident, promising to investigate what prompted Leistner's reaction.

Toni Leistner of Hamburger SV in action during the DFB Cup first round match between Dynamo Dresden and Hamburger SV.
Toni Leistner of Hamburger SV in action during the DFB Cup first round match between Dynamo Dresden and Hamburger SV. (Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth/Getty Images)

"Disgraceful post-match insults against Toni Leistner from a fan of his hometown club," the team said in a statement.

"We are looking for that person because we will not let this incident stand like that. We'd like to thank 99.9 per cent of those attending the match today for their support."

Hamburg were on the end of a 4-1 loss to Dresden on Monday, with the Leistner suffering defeat against the club he represented from 2010-14.

Leistner signed with Hamburg on August 28, having previously featured for Queens Park Rangers since 2018.

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