The Zurich public prosecutor's office has charged two FC Basel fans over an attack on a catering worker at the Schützenwiese stadium. The incident occurred on March 22 during the championship match between FC Winterthur and FC Basel in the away sector.
The two accused, aged 22 and 37, are alleged to have punched a 25-year-old employee in the head. The victim required hospital treatment following the assault. The prosecutor's office stated: "They are alleged to have injured a catering employee at a football match in Winterthur in March." The men were arrested in early April in northwest Switzerland.
Charges and Potential Sentences
The authority is seeking multi-year prison sentences for both defendants. The charges are attempted serious bodily harm and assault. A third person involved in the initial verbal altercation remains unidentified. The Winterthur district court is handling the case.
The incident highlights the issue of fan violence at Swiss football matches. For FC Winterthur, the focus remains on sporting matters. Patrick Rahmen's team sits third in the Challenge League with 18 points from ten games. Their record shows five wins, three draws, and two defeats. They are six points behind leaders Stade Lausanne-Ouchy and have a goal difference of plus eight, having scored 19 and conceded 11.
Their last five matches have yielded three wins and two losses. Prior to that, the team secured three consecutive victories, including a 7-3 win over FC Basel 1893. After recent defeats to Neuchâtel Xamax and FC Luzern, the squad aims to get back to winning ways this Friday. The third-placed side then hosts bottom club Stade Nyonnais on Friday 23 October. All upcoming fixtures are listed on our fixtures page. The prosecutor's office added in its statement: "The two accused are then alleged to have participated." A trial date has not yet been set.
This story first appeared at nau.ch
