Bayern Munich are mourning the death of a fan who attended the team’s 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Bavarian club said early Thursday morning that they received the news that the fan had died while being transported to the hospital.
Bayern fans did not sing or chant during the game out of respect for the person. The atmosphere in Bayern’s stadium was noticeably muted some minutes after kickoff when it became apparent there was a medical emergency requiring the attention of paramedics and police officers.
The Bayern supporters’ group Club Nr. 12 said its members would “not be supporting as usual today because of an emergency medical intervention. Life comes before sport. We wish the family and friends lots of strength.”
The Bayern supporters did not resume chanting after the person was carried out of the block on a stretcher after about half an hour.
Bayern Munich players applaud their supporters after Wednesday’s Champions League win over Benfica. Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“A medical emergency in the stands of the Allianz Arena cast a shadow over the game right from the start,” Bayern said in a statement. “Out of consideration, the Südkurve refrained from its usual vociferous support for their team, and the club also reduced its coverage of the match.
“Around an hour after the final whistle, the German record champions received the sad news that the fan had died on the way to hospital. FC Bayern is in mourning side by side with the fan’s relatives.”
Jamal Musiala‘s 67th-minute header — set up by Harry Kane — was enough for Bayern to end its two-game losing run and claim its second win of the league phase.
The Bayern fans cheered and celebrated the goal, but the atmosphere remained muted for the rest of the match.
“We didn’t know of it during the game, just after it,” Bayern midfielder Konrad Laimer said of the medical emergency. “We wish the family strength and best wishes, we’re thinking of all involved.”
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
