2nd league
Hertha takes action: Gersbeck suspended “until further notice”.
Was suspended “until further notice”: Hertha goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
First goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck had to leave the Hertha BSC training camp, then he was suspended. The Berlin crisis club does not find peace even as a second division team.
A nocturnal dispute in Austria has hope Marius Gersbeck made a problem at Hertha BSC. The second division soccer team suspended its goalkeeper “until further notice”. This was shared by the club. The Berlin reacted to the incidents at the weekend in the training camp in Zell am See in Austria.
“Due to the police investigations into our player Marius Gersbeck, we have decided to suspend Marius from team training until further notice. In addition, he has left the team hotel without permission,” managing director Thomas Herrich was quoted as saying in a club statement.
The decision was made by Herrich and sports director Benjamin Weber, it said. “The reason for the suspension is the alleged facts in the context of the training camp in Zell am See / Austria,” Hertha said. Gersbeck has to keep fit individually for the time being. The goalkeeper himself or his management have not yet commented on the events.
Violent confrontation in the morning hours
The Salzburg state police reported on Sunday a violent altercation in Zell am See in the early hours of the morning. A 28-year-old is said to have inflicted injuries on a 22-year-old who had to be treated in hospital. The 28-year-old was then questioned by the police, but made no statements about the facts, as a spokesman for the Salzburg police department confirmed to the German Press Agency. Hertha had previously confirmed police investigations into a player, but initially did not name Gersbeck.
Born in Berlin, Gersbeck was brought back to his youth club by Karlsruher SC for €300,000 this summer. Because of his close contacts in the fan scene, he was considered a possible identification figure for the so-called Hertha way, with which the Bundesliga relegated wants to get out of the sporting and economic crisis.
Gersbeck was partly captain in friendlies recently
In friendlies, Gersbeck, who was a regular fan in the east stand of the Olympic Stadium as a youngster, was last part of the captain. He was also considered a potential number one for the upcoming season in the 2nd division. In the training camp he had to pause due to a finger injury.
The suspension also has sporting consequences for coach Pal Dardai. Almost two weeks before the start of the season with the tough away game at Fortuna Düsseldorf on July 29 (8:30 p.m. / Sky / Sport1), the goalkeeper hierarchy that is just emerging is being rearranged. Tjark Ernst could be a beneficiary, because Gersbeck’s return quickly seems unthinkable at the moment. Hertha may also refrain from transferring the previous number one Oliver Christensen, which was actually intended for economic reasons.
Dardai had previously demonstrated composure. The pros biked to the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See for their regeneration session. The idyll of the Austrian mountains gave no indication of trouble. Under the command of the relaxed-looking trainer, the unit was routinely unwound for a good hour, followed by a free afternoon in the training camp. The renewed rumblings behind the scenes could not be felt, but ultimately could not be concealed. That made the suspension of Gersbeck clear in the evening.