Hertha Berlin secure win in explosive German Cup first round after shots fired at team bus

Hertha Berlin cleared the German Cup first round hurdle on Monday 24 hours after a shot was fired at their team bus as a clash between lower league Osnabruck and RB Leipzig was suspended when the referee was struck on the head by a lighter.

A police inquiry is underway into Sunday’s incident when a motorbike rider fired at the empty Hertha bus as it was being driven to pick up the team at Bielefeld train station.

A photo posted by the club on Twitter showed the impact of the bullet which smashed a hole in the windscreen at the level of the driver’s head who escaped uninjured.

Hertha beat Bielefeld 2-0 with goals from Salomon Kalou and Vladimir Darida.

Referee Martin Petersen was wounded when he was struck on the head by a lighter during a tie between third division Osnabruck and second division RB Leipzig. The game was called off in the 71st minute with hosts Osnabruck leading 1-0.

The seriousness of the injury has not yet been revealed, but the German Football Federation (DFB) said that sanctions would be taken against the host club.

“The DFB control commission has already begun an inquiry,” said DFB spokesman Ralf Koettker.