NIKO KOVAČ DEMANDS INVESTIGATION AFTER TOTTENHAM FANS’ ‘EXTRA-MINUTE’ CHANT FOLLOWING DORTMUND’S BRUTAL 2-0 DEFEAT
NIKO KOVAČ DEMANDS INVESTIGATION AFTER TOTTENHAM FANS’ ‘EXTRA-MINUTE’ CHANT FOLLOWING DORTMUND’S BRUTAL 2–0 DEFEAT
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač has called for an investigation into a controversial chant heard from sections of the Tottenham Hotspur crowd following his side’s bruising 2–0 defeat, as tensions flared on and off the pitch on a night that quickly spiraled away from the German giants.
As the clock ticked into added time, a loud chant referencing “extra minutes” echoed around the stadium, a moment Kovač felt crossed a line. Speaking shortly after the match, the Dortmund boss made it clear that while he accepts defeat on sporting terms, the atmosphere and the nature of the chant demanded closer scrutiny.
“This is not about losing,” Kovač stressed. “We lost because Tottenham were better on the night. But certain things that happened around the end of the match should not be ignored.”
The chant, picked up clearly by television microphones, appeared to mock earlier officiating controversies involving Dortmund this season, a sore subject within the club. Players on the pitch were visibly distracted, with several turning toward the stands as the chant grew louder. Dortmund’s bench also reacted, prompting stewards to move closer to the technical areas as tempers threatened to boil over.
From the opening whistle, the match had been played at an intense tempo. Tottenham pressed aggressively, pinning Dortmund deep and forcing early errors. The first goal arrived after sustained pressure, while the second effectively ended the contest as Dortmund struggled to regain composure. By the final quarter of the match, frustration had crept into their play, with mistimed challenges and heated exchanges becoming more frequent.
Kovač acknowledged Tottenham’s quality and intensity, but emphasized that respect must remain central to football culture. “Rivalry is part of the game. Noise is part of the game,” he said. “But when chants are designed to provoke and reference sensitive issues, there has to be accountability.”
UEFA regulations place responsibility on clubs for crowd behavior, and Kovač confirmed that Dortmund would be submitting an official report. While he stopped short of demanding punishment, he insisted the incident be reviewed to prevent similar situations in future fixtures.
Tottenham, for their part, focused on the football. Their manager praised his players’ discipline and tactical execution, highlighting the clean sheet and clinical finishing as key factors. Asked about the chant, he declined to comment directly, stating that crowd matters were outside his remit and that the focus should remain on the performance.
FANS REACTIONS ONLINE
Fans online, however, wasted no time weighing in. Dortmund supporters expressed anger and disappointment, with many backing Kovač’s stance. One fan,
@YellowWall09, posted, “We can accept defeat, but mocking us like that is unnecessary. Kovač is right to speak up.” Another,
@BVBTrueFaith, added, “Football needs passion, not provocation. Investigate it and move on.”
Tottenham fans saw it differently. @SpursNorthEnd wrote, “The chant was banter, nothing more. Focus on defending better next time.” Meanwhile, @LilywhitePulse said, “Big European night, big atmosphere. That’s football.”
Former players and pundits also weighed in, offering mixed views. Some argued that chants, even provocative ones, are part of the spectacle, while others sided with Kovač, warning that normalizing such behavior risks pushing boundaries further.
For Dortmund, the defeat leaves them facing a difficult path ahead, both competitively and emotionally. The players will need to regroup quickly, but Kovač believes addressing the off-field issue is just as important as correcting tactical mistakes.
“If we want football to move forward, everyone has a role,” he concluded. “Players, coaches, officials, and supporters. Silence helps no one.”
As UEFA considers the report and debates continue across social media, one thing is clear: a match decided by goals has become overshadowed by a chant that may yet have consequences beyond the final scoreline.
