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Azeri Football Fans Toss Roll of Toilet Paper at German Coach

Three Azeri men threw a roll of toilet paper at Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts to express their displeasure with the national team's performance.

The men also presented Vogts with a jug of water of the type used in Muslim countries to wash after using the toilet.

The incident took place Sunday during a news conference in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan's European Championship qualifier against Germany on Tuesday.

The German coach, under fire in Azeri media following his team's disappointing run, later told German reporters in Baku that he had filed a report with police and would "discuss his next steps with my lawyers."

He said three men, who were not journalists, attacked him before being stopped by security guards in the room. Vogts said he was unhurt.

Vogts, who coached Germany to the 1996 European title, said he would still coach the team on Tuesday despite the incident.

"I would have long ago left if it were not for my friendship with the federation president," he told Germany's SID agency. "I have experienced many things but nothing like that. I do not have the words to describe this."

Pressure on Vogts, who won the 1974 World Cup as a player, has been mounting since his team's 2-1 defeat to bottom-placed Kazakhstan on Friday that left them with three points from five matches in qualifying Group A.

"This is a no-go. To attack a coach is unacceptable whatever the outcome of a match. I am surprised to hear the news," Germany coach Joachim Loew told reporters in Vienna as the team prepared to leave for Azerbaijan following their 2-1 win against Austria on Friday.

"Azerbaijan may have lost against Kazakhstan, but they have, for example, won a crucial game against Turkey and that shows their development that is strongly linked to Berti Vogts. So this really is a surprise."

Germany leads the group with 18 points.

(AP, Reuters)

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