Niko Kovač Demands Investigation After Tottenham Fans’ ‘Extra-Minute’ Chant During Dortmund’s 2–0 Defeat
Niko Kovač Urges Investigation After ‘Extra-Time’ Chant in Tottenham’s 2–0 Win Over Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač has called on authorities to examine a controversial chant aimed at his side by sections of the Tottenham Hotspur crowd during Dortmund’s 2–0 defeat, after an already tough evening for the German club grew increasingly heated.
Dortmund arrived in North London hoping to reignite their European campaign but left with both a damaging loss and lingering irritation. Spurs scored in each half to take firm control of the contest, yet the main talking point emerged late in the game and carried on after the final whistle.
In stoppage time, a chant referencing “extra minutes” echoed around the stadium — something Kovač felt crossed the line from normal fan rivalry. While accepting the result on the pitch, the Dortmund boss said the tone and implication of the chant warranted scrutiny. TV microphones clearly captured it, and it appeared to reference past refereeing controversies involving Dortmund, a particularly sensitive topic for the club.
The reaction was immediate. Several Dortmund players turned toward the stands as the chant grew louder, while the bench reacted angrily, forcing stewards to move closer as tensions rose.
On the pitch, the match itself was fiercely fought. Tottenham’s aggressive pressing unsettled Dortmund early, leading to the opener, and a second goal later on effectively settled the contest. As the game progressed, Dortmund’s frustration became increasingly clear, with late challenges and confrontations breaking up their flow.
Kovač acknowledged Tottenham’s energy and quality but stressed that respect must remain central to football. “Noise and rivalry are part of the game,” he said. “But when chants are designed to provoke and touch on sensitive issues, there has to be accountability.”
He confirmed Dortmund would submit an official report under UEFA’s crowd conduct rules. While stopping short of demanding punishment, Kovač insisted the incident should be reviewed to prevent similar situations in the future.
Tottenham, meanwhile, chose to focus solely on the football. Their manager praised his team’s tactical organisation, defensive strength and clinical finishing, declining to comment on the chant and stating that crowd behaviour was not his responsibility.
Online Reaction
Social media response was swift and sharply divided. Dortmund fans largely supported Kovač, arguing the chant went too far, while many Spurs supporters brushed it off as harmless banter typical of high-profile matches. Pundits and former players were also split, with some defending fan expression and others warning that normalising provocative chants risks lowering standards.
For Dortmund, the loss complicates their European ambitions, but Kovač believes addressing off-field issues is just as important as fixing problems on the pitch.
“If football is to move forward, everyone has a role to play,” he said. “Players, coaches, officials and supporters. Staying quiet helps no one.”
As UEFA considers the report and debate continues online, a match decided by goals now threatens to be remembered for a chant that could have implications beyond the final score.