Both teams' players were fired up.
Kyle immediately shielded Ye Chen, while players from both sides shoved each other.
Shinji Kagawa, who had knocked Rudiger to the ground, was also pushed down.
The referee stepped in between them, separating the two sides.
The stadium erupted with deafening boos.
In the away section, Dortmund fans clashed with Stuttgart supporters.
Security personnel quickly intervened, separating the brawling fans.
Several injured fans were taken away for treatment.
The big screen replayed the foul that had just occurred.
Ye Chen planted his left foot for support and swung his right foot for the shot.
But as Ye Chen completed his kick, Rudiger stomped directly on Ye Chen's ankle and foot!
In professional football, players' boots are equipped with real studs â the consequences of such a stomp are unimaginable!
What made it worse was that Ye Chen had already taken the shot. Rudiger, knowing he couldn't block the shot, intentionally lashed out...
It was an unnecessary and dangerous action.
Even though Rudiger clutched his head and tried to argue afterward, did he really think he could fool the referee?
The Stuttgart fans, who had initially booed, fell silent.
Fans enjoy intense competition but absolutely reject violence on the pitch.
This is something all fans firmly oppose.
On the sidelines, Klopp was furious, yelling at the fourth official, "Is he playing football or trying to kill someone? A player like that should be banned for life!"
In the years that followed, Rudiger became notorious for his rough play.
Many players fell victim to his tackles â Kevin De Bruyne and Son Heung-min were among them. One infamous clash left De Bruyne with a swollen face, mild concussion, and numbness, forcing Manchester City to substitute him.
In response to the incident, the referee handed out yellow cards to both sides.
But Ye Chen's goal stood.
The score was now Stuttgart 2 - 4 Dortmund!
As Rudiger left the field, Götze took a parting shot, "You're a disgrace to Dortmund's youth academy! You're destroying our future with your violence â do you realize that?"
Yes, Rudiger came from Dortmund's academy.
Originally a winger, he was converted to a center-back but later joined Stuttgart as a free agent.
Dortmund's medical team brought out the stretcher. Ye Chen couldn't continue the match and needed further examination at the hospital.
After receiving painkillers, Ye Chen felt somewhat relieved. Lying on the stretcher, he stared blankly at the sky but never shed a tear.
He could endure physical pain.
But the wounds in his heart...
With both teams down to ten players, the match intensified.
Ye Chen's hospital tests confirmed an ankle injury, sidelining him for two weeks.
The news was quickly posted on the official website, easing the concerns of anxious fans.
But as the dust settled, fans realized something monumental â
Ye Chen had broken his own Guinness World Record, extending his consecutive hat-trick streak to six games!
Previously, some questioned the validity of his record, arguing that one of the five hat-tricks was in the DFB-Pokal, not the Bundesliga.
But now, those voices were silent.
Substituted in at the 66th minute, injured at the 76th minute.
Ye Chen scored three goals in ten minutes.
The first â blazing past defenders, rounding the keeper for an easy finish.
The second â a sudden free-kick strike, piercing the net like an arrow.
The third â a stunning curler that lit up the Bundesliga.
Each goal electrified the stadium.
But Ye Chen celebrated none of them.
Fans wondered â why had Ye Chen, once known for his passionate celebrations, suddenly become so calm?
Soon, the reason emerged. The Chinese Football Association had imposed an unjust penalty on Ye Chen, prompting him to sever ties with the national team.
The news exploded across Germany.
Thousands of Dortmund fans flooded the German national team's official page, demanding Ye Chen's naturalization.
With such a striker, Germany could dominate the 2012 Euros and 2014 World Cup.
Naturalize Ye Chen, and Germany's attack would thrive for the next decade!
Averaging over three goals per match, Ye Chen was a true Bundesliga goal-scoring machine.
As Ferguson once said, "Missing out on a talent like him is unforgivable."
Yet somehow, the Chinese FA had disregarded him.
Before the match, during a warm-up scuffle, Ye Chen was punished without proper investigation â further evidence of the FA's incompetence.
Fans speculated: how much did the FA dislike Ye Chen?
No wonder he left the national team.
After Ye Chen's injury, countless fans abandoned watching the game, flooding the FA's website with protests.
Liang Zhijun, a senior FA official, received a call from his superiors demanding an explanation.
Under pressure, Liang Zhijun released a new statement:
[Regarding the Revocation of Ye Chen's Punishment:]
After reviewing the warm-up incident, it was determined that Shinji Okazaki initiated the provocation. Ye Chen was not the primary instigator. As such, his punishment is revoked. FA official Chen Zema, responsible for the oversight, has been suspended. However, as a national player, Ye Chen should set an example â retaliation is not the answer. This time, the FA will not pursue further action but urges him to lead by example in the future and promote positivity.
The internet erupted.
"So Ye Chen gets attacked and can't fight back? Seriously?"
"Chen Zema? Why not blame Benzema while you're at it?"
"Classic â find a scapegoat and avoid accountability."
"I've seen shameless, but this is next level."
Outraged fans demanded justice for Ye Chen, even planning protests at the FA office.
But just then, Ye Chen posted on Weibo:
"Let it go, I'm tired."
He disabled comments immediately after.
In Germany, Ye Chen stared blankly at his phone...
Do you still remember your childhood dreams?
June 4, 2002 â China's first World Cup match against Costa Rica.
June 8, 2002 â A crushing defeat by Brazil.
June 13, 2002 â A final loss to Turkey.
Three matches. Zero goals. Nine conceded.
Yet, hope remained.
"We'll come back stronger next time!"
But that... was the peak they never surpassed.