Bundesliga clash ABANDONED after linesman hit on head by cup of BEER

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

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.

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.'

Bochum played well as it sought to end a three-game run of