Borussia Dortmund fans protest German FA by throwing tennis balls, chocolate coins

The disruption, occurring in the 37th minute, caused a ten-minute delay before Dortmund secured a commanding 3-0 victory with goals from Donyell Malen and Niclas Fullkrug on Friday night.

This wave of supporter unrest traces back to December when German teams sanctioned a proposal to trade Bundesliga TV rights for investment capital. 

The decision has sparked fierce opposition from fans, who adamantly reject external commercial influence on the beloved Bundesliga. 

Since the majority vote in December, where 26 out of 36 teams in the men's first and second divisions endorsed the proposal, demonstrations have erupted in various forms across stadiums.

Notable instances include Bochum fans pelting the pitch with balls during their December triumph over Union Berlin, Hamburg supporters symbolically chaining padlocks to the goalposts in their recent victory against Hannover, and a lengthy stoppage in Heidenheim's clash with Wolfsburg in January due to fan protests.

The proposed 'strategic marketing partnership' involves trading an 8% share of revenues over two decades to an investment firm. 

Proponents argue that this arrangement would enhance the league's global visibility and enable a greater focus on streaming services. However, critics fear the encroachment of commercial interests could compromise the integrity and traditions of German football.

READ MORE: David Moyes: Kalvin Phillips will become a 'key player' for West Ham