Hertha Berlin abandons battle against relegation

Published Jun. 19, 2012 2:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

Hertha Berlin says it is abandoning a legal battle to secure a replay of a chaotic relegation playoff match - a decision that seals its demotion to the second division.

Hertha had two appeals seeking a replay of the match to Germany's football federation rejected last month. It said Tuesday that it had decided against launching an appeal to another federation tribunal because it concluded that there was no chance of success.

The club was relegated on aggregate after drawing 2-2 last month at second-division challenger Fortuna Duesseldorf, which will replace it in the Bundesliga next season.

Duesseldorf's fans invaded the pitch two minutes before the end of the match, which was interrupted for 20 minutes. Hertha argued unsuccessfully that its players were too intimidated to continue.