Football referee Nicolas Winter receives 1,500 euros in compensation from a spectator for a beer shower. This verdict was handed down by the Zwickau Regional Court in a civil case before a single judge. He was also awarded proportionate legal fees. Winter had demanded compensation for pain and suffering of 25,000 euros. An appeal against the ruling can be lodged with the Dresden Higher Regional Court.
On April 23, 2023, Winter had a cup of beer thrown in his face by an angry Zwickau spectator, who was also a sponsor of the club at the time, on his way into the half-time break at FSV Zwickau's third division match against Rot-Weiss Essen. The referee from Hagenbach then stopped the match, which was subsequently awarded to Essen by the DFB sports court.
Winter sued the spectator under civil law for serious interference with his constitutionally protected general right of personality. The judge agreed. However, the court rejected the compensation demanded by Winter as significantly excessive, referring to comparable cases in which compensation for pain and suffering of between 800 and 1,500 euros is awarded.
