Three supporters suffered serious injury in the incident shortly before kick-off, the club confirmed on their official website.

The conduct of the visiting fans overshadowed an otherwise welcome 0-0 draw for Nurnberg coach Dieter Hecking, and Bader has hit out over the distressing incident.

"Such scenes are unimaginable and terrible, that shouldn't be allowed to happen in football stadiums," he said on www.fcn.de.

"It is awful that there have been people injured. We wish those affected a speedy recovery.

"Everyone has to be able to go to the stadium with worrying about their health. We hope many people can help us in solving this act and will work closely together with the security services."

Bader added: "Such an act damages not only the club, but the whole Bundesliga.

"We want a complete solution and will do everything to detect the perpetrators, who have put other spectators and also themselves in danger.

"To that end we are working hand in hand with Bochum and the security services.

"The safety and the health of all spectators has the highest priority. The scenes in Bochum have shown again why pyrotechnics are banned."

Nurnberg confirmed they would hold "intensive talks" in the coming days with the club's hardcore fans, the 'ultras'.

Hecking also heavily criticised the behaviour of the fans involved.

"That is ridiculous," said Hecking. "There is a bit of stupidity involved and it must be condemned."

Bochum general manager Thomas Ernst also slammed the actions.

"We condemn them in the harshest terms," he said on the club's website.

Hecking praised his team's performance on the field, even if it did not quite match the quality they had shown in the 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich last weekend.

And he is confident they will manage to climb out of the relegation zone.

"I am optimistic," said Hecking. "It didn't look pretty, but we just lacked the last touch in front of goal.

"We have got to change that in the coming weeks because we want to find a way out (of danger)."