Union Berlin's Bundesliga clash against bottom-of-the-table Bochum was suspended on Saturday after goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was struck by a projectile thrown from the crowd.

The feisty encounter spilled into chaos during the second-half with the match tied at 1-1 heading into the final few minutes of stoppage time when the incident occurred.

A goal-kick in the dying embers of the game was interrupted when what appeared to be a cigarette lighter was thrown from the crowd and struck the German shot-stopper in the face.

Drewes immediately went down on his knees inside the Bochum box and team physios sprinted onto the pitch to assess the severity of the facial injury.

Meanwhile, referee Martin Petersen quickly took the action to suspend the match and ordered both sets of players back to the dressing rooms while tempers continued to flare in the stands.

Play eventually resumed after almost 30 minutes, but the goalkeeper was unable to continue after being hit by the projectile and Bochum instead had to play striker Philipp Hofmann in goal for the remaining few minutes.

Fortunately, Union Berlin players showed great sportsmanship and passed the ball around while waiting for the clock to run down instead of attempting to score a winning goal.

The injured Bochum goalkeeper was later taken to hospital for further checks but has since been given the all clear.

An investigation was quickly undertaken following the incident and reports in Germany state the individual who threw the object has now been handed over to police.

However, despite taking one league point, Bochum believe the match should have been abandoned instead of suspended that would have resulted in them taking all three available points.

Bochum managing director Ilja Kaenzig fumed that the club would be launching a follow-up appeal with the Bundesliga because the injury to their goalkeeper had caused a 'sporting disadvantage'. 

'The rules are very clear. We had exhausted our substitution quota,' he said. But, Union Berlin have issued their own response voting against the suggestion.

The club's sporting director Horst Heldt stated: 'It would be a mistake to blame the whole club or the fans for the action of one individual.' 

It is yet to be seen whether the Bundesliga will take any further action in relation to the incident.