At Tuesday's press conference before the Cup tie with Hertha BSC, Thomas Tuchel was asked about the incidents that took place at and surrounding the Bundesliga match against Rasenballsport Leipzig. "We distance ourselves from all violence," said the coach, who warned against tarring all of the 24,500 fans in the South Stand with the same brush.

"My answer would have to be no, although I don't mean to play down what happened there," said Tuchel when asked whether he would look differently upon the "Yellow Wall" from now on. "I know several people who have tickets there and they would never be violent," the coach said, before adding: "I'm not a fan of blanket condemnations."

However, the 43-year-old did state in the aftermath of the 1-0 victory over second-placed Leipzig that "it [the violence] really takes the shine off the result and is completely unjustifiable. We distance ourselves from all violence. It needs to be possible as a family, especially in Dortmund, to go to the stadium in peace. There is a line and it has clearly been crossed here." (br)