The game between Dortmund and Mainz on Sunday was overshadowed by the tragic death of a Dortmund fan who suffered a heart attack in the stadium. After news of the tragedy started to break around the stadium, the game took a backseat as both players and fans alike were visibly shaken by the event. The usually boisterous atmosphere of the Westfalenstadion was eerily quiet as everyone paid their silent respects to the fan who lost his life.
Dortmund fans sing You'll Never Walk Alone while the players pay their respect. Photo: @theScore | Twitter
Shinji Kagawa did not celebrate his goal that put Dortmund two goals ahead, while the crowd was similarly subdued. The most stunning moment of respect occurred at the end of the match, when the entire stadium joined in a hauntingly beautiful rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone." The players, visibly moved, stood in silence with their arms around each other on the pitch in a moment of spontaneous respect the likes of which we have never seen.
Very sad to hear a Dortmund fan passed away during the game against Mainz. BvB fans reacted by singing YNWA.https://t.co/BFI1K7jTgW
— TheFootballRepublic (@TheFootballRep) March 13, 2016
Afterwards Borussia Dortmund president Reinhard Rauball said to Sky Sports Deutschland:
"In the name of Borussia Dortmund, I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of those affected. Our thoughts are with them."
Another fan who also suffered a heart attack is in the hospital in stable condition.
Dortmund players also tweeted their condolences after the match.
Prayers & thoughts to the fan we saddly lost today at the stadium, as well as to our 2nd fan now at hospital #YNWA pic.twitter.com/nRu3fIYUXk
— Henrikh Mkhitaryan (@HenrikhMkh) March 13, 2016
