Borussia Dortmund fans throw tennis balls to protest ticket prices

Borussia Dortmund progressed to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals on a night when their players temporarily became ball boys after disgruntled fans threw dozens of tennis balls onto the pitch in Stuttgart

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund progressed to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals on a night when their players temporarily became ball boys after disgruntled fans threw dozens of tennis balls onto the pitch in Stuttgart.

Dortmund players picks up tennis balls thrown by fans to protest against football matches ticket prices during the German Cup DFB Pokal quarter-final match against VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

Dortmund supporters made their anger about the hosts' ticket prices known in the build-up to Tuesday's cup tie, and that led to an unusual interruption midway through the first half.

Fans smuggled tennis balls into the Mercedes-Benz Arena and threw them onto the pitch, disrupting a match, which Dortmund went on to win 3-1.

The incident happened after ticket prices also hit the headlines in England over the weekend, with Liverpool supporters leaving Anfield during Saturday's draw with Sunderland in protest of the club's new pricing structure for next season.

The game was then disrupted in the 24th minute when dozens of tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch. The balls were cleared by players from both sides, after which the game resumed.

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