The Bundesliga’s plans for increased Monday night matches met with fierce resistance as Eintracht Frankfurt fans showed their disapproval during the game against RB Leipzig.

The match was the first of five Monday night games to be played in the Bundesliga this season, a decision which has angered supporters. Home fans delayed the start of both halves, throwing hundreds of tennis balls on to the pitch at the start of the second period.

Hundreds of fans left the terraces shortly before kick-off and occupied the area behind the pitch with banners which carried messages such as “No to Monday night football”, delaying the start of the match for six minutes.

Before the beginning of the second half, tennis balls were thrown and toilet rolls hurled at the goals. Instead of singing, fans whistled constantly for much of the game.

Fans throw tennis balls and streamers onto the pitch at the start of the second half. Photograph: Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images

Frankfurt supporters groups had called for the protests, saying the league and clubs were “prepared to sacrifice our interests for the smallest of financial gains”.

“As long as they have a few more euros in their pockets, they couldn’t care less how many days’ holiday we need to take to attend an away game,” said a statement from the fans. “Marketing is their highest priority.“

The Bundesliga had said it wanted to give more recovery time to teams playing in Thursday Europa League matches, which is the case with Leipzig this season. Further protests are expected when Dortmund host Augsburg on 26 February, with some Dortmund supporter groups calling for a boycott.

Frankfurt won 2-1 to climb above their opponents into third and boost their Champions League qualification hopes.

Jean-Kévin Augustin gave the Leipzig a 13th-minute lead but two goals in five minutes from Timothy Chandler and Kevin-Prince Boateng turned the game in Frankfurt’s favour.

Leipzig had a penalty revoked by the VAR and there was a half-time scuffle in a match where dissent from the stands seemed to spread to the players.