Loss of control in the Derby: Yardimci’s frightening stranglehold continues

Loss of control in the Derby Yardimci's frightening stranglehold continues 27.10.2025, 06:39

Braunschweig striker Yardimci received an early red card against Hannover for a chokehold on his opponent's neck. He did his team a disservice. The coach explained how he intended to punish his player, but also defended him.

After the 3-0 derby defeat against Hannover 96, second-division soccer club Eintracht Braunschweig is struggling to deal with the red-card offender Erencan Yardimci. Coach Heiner Backhaus announced a fine for the 23-year-old striker, but also defended him against harsh criticism and initial hostility on social media.

"The punishment will remain internal. However, I already told the managing director at halftime what I would like. Because it was a disservice. And above all, because it has no place in sports," Backhaus said. "I must clearly distance myself from this. And if I want to apologize, then it's primarily to children and young people, because this has no place on the football field. We'll come up with something good he can do to prevent this from happening again."

"He's sorry"

Yardimci grabbed his opponent Boris Tomiak by the neck with both hands on Sunday and was shown a red card for this choking gesture in the 20th minute with the score at 0-0. With a man down, Braunschweig had no chance against their much stronger arch-rivals.

Because the Turkish player, on loan from 1899 Hoffenheim, was quickly insulted on social media, Backhaus not only criticized him but also stood up for the striker. "I'll give him a hug today because he's his own biggest critic," said the Eintracht coach. "He feels sorry for him because he's a very level-headed, calm boy."

Yardimci is a player "who is totally reflective and often blames himself too much. I don't want that to happen to him again in his career. He's a player on loan from the Bundesliga and needs this maturation process here. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and desperately wants to play in the Bundesliga again. We need to influence this now by analyzing this and by developing his personality. Because it can always happen that such a fast player gets provoked on the field."