On Saturday evening, a humdrum match between Hoffenheim and Bayern took a turn for the strange. The trouble started in the 67th minute, when Leon Goretzka made it 6-0 to Bayern, at which point the Bayern fans occupying the away section unveiled banners bearing insulting messages.

Applying Fifa’s three-step procedure for dealing with discriminatory behaviour in the stadium, the referee stopped play and an announcement was made pleading with the fans to desist. Soon after play resumed, the Bayern fans produced another offensive banner.