On Saturday, May 10, Hamburg celebrated their promotion to the Bundesliga after a resounding 6-1 victory over Ulm at the Volksparkstadion. However, the joyous occasion turned chaotic when a pitch invasion by supporters led to multiple injuries. As fans rushed onto the field to celebrate with the players, 25 people were hospitalized, including one with life-threatening injuries. The Hamburg Fire Department reported that 44 individuals received medical treatment, with 19 suffering serious injuries, five with minor injuries, and one in critical condition. A large emergency response was required, with 65 personnel from the Hamburg rescue service and fire brigade dispatched to the scene.
Hamburg, who had been relegated to Bundesliga 2 in 2018, had spent the last seven years fighting to regain their spot in the top flight. Their promotion was secured with this win, which confirmed a top-two finish in the league. The team had a rocky start to the match, falling behind 1-0 to Ulm in the seventh minute, but quickly equalized through Ludovit Reis just three minutes later. Hamburg's goalkeeper, Daniel Heuer Fernandes, saved a penalty in the 36th minute, and the team went on to take control of the game with two goals before halftime from Ransford-Yeboah Koenigsdoerffer and Davie Selke. In the second half, Hamburg sealed the win with further dominance.
The victory put Hamburg on 59 points, ensuring their return to the Bundesliga with a game remaining in the season, as they finished above second-place Cologne and third-place Elversberg. Despite the celebration being marred by the incident on the pitch, the team’s achievement marked their return to the top tier of German football after a lengthy absence.
