Germany Controversy shocks and appals 3. Liga club

Former Bundesliga mainstays Hansa Rostock may be out of the limelight down in the German third-tier, but their fans are still drawing attention, this time with a banner depicting Osama Bin Laden on the anniversary weekend of the 9/11 terror attacks.

During their 1-1 draw with Aalen, the Baltic side's supporters unfurled the sign in their latest anti-American display, amid long-lasting anger over the east German town's suffering during the Second World War.

The incident follows the controversy of Rostock's promotion in 2011, which saw an image of Bin Laden revealed in the crowd, captioned by the pun "Bin aufgestiegen" (been promoted).

This time around, a potential stadium ban could be placed on the third division side, either for the individuals involved or a wider part of the Ostseestadion.

"This was a very stupid act of little taste," Hansa managing director Robert Marien said of the banner.