Published: 18:42 EDT, 18 March 2022 | Updated: 20:34 EDT, 18 March 2022

A Bundesliga game between Bochum and Borussia Monchengladbach was called off on Friday after a linesman was struck in the back of the head by a plastic beer cup thrown by someone in the crowd.

The match was already noteworthy for being the league's first to be played between teams without coaches as Bochum's Thomas Reis and Gladbach counterpart Adi Hutter have coronavirus infections.

Gladbach was leading 2-0 through second-half goals from Alassane Plea and Breel Embolo with around 20 minutes remaining, when linesman Christian Gittelman was hit from behind by the beer cup. 

The match between VFL Bochum and Borussia Monchengladbach has been abandoned after the assistant referee was struck by an item from the crowd. pic.twitter.com/OKAIvaEWZy

Bochum and Borussia Monchengladbach's game was called off on Friday after a linesman was struck in the back of the head by a plastic beer cup thrown by someone in the crowd

Linesman Christian Gittelman (left) was hit from behind by the beer cup in the second half

Gittelman picked the beaker up and threw it aside. He kneeled on the field and rubbed the back of his head, signaling to referee Benjamin Cortus that he was OK, but the match officials all left the field.

Meanwhile, Bochum players remonstrated angrily with their supporters.

After several minutes the stadium announcer said the game was postponed due to an object thrown from the crowd.

Some 15 minutes after the object was thrown, the Gladbach team emerged back onto the field to salute their traveling supporters.

Gittelman kneeled on the field and rubbed the back of his head, signaling to referee Benjamin Cortus that he was OK, but the match officials all left the field

Then the stadium announcer said the game was called off and asked for fans to leave the ground.

Bochum took to social media immediately after to strongly condemn the 'stupid action' of the one 'idiotic fan'

'We can only formally apologise to linesman Christian Gittelmann,' Bochum tweeted on their official Twitter post.

'A highly embarrassing and bitter evening for us. An extremely stupid action from an idiotic fan.'

Alassane Plea celebrates scoring Gladbach's first goal shortly before the game was called off

Borussia Monchengladbach players thank the fans after the abandoned Bundesliga match

Bochum played well as it sought to end a three-game run of defeats. The home team forced the initiative in the first half with Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer doing well to dig out a low shot from Christopher Antwi-Adjei in the 14th minute, and later to stop a header from Armel Bella Kotchap.

After the break, Sommer denied Sebastian Polter before Plea scored against the run of play in the 55th. 

Luca Netz sent a corner to the unmarked Plea on the edge of the penalty area and the forward's volley took a deflection on its way through a host of defenders inside the far post.

Sommer made another double save but Embolo got the visitors' second goal in the 61st.

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