"Flouting the Truth: A Fan's Perspective on the Bundesliga's Darker Side"
Bundesliga’s Warm Embrace Towards its Enthralled Spectators
By Ben Redelings
In the early days of the Bundesliga, the football business was a far cry from the giant corporation it is today. But with the increased public exposure came a darker side: lies and deceit became commonplace. "It's like this, we don't always tell the truth. That's not a lie," remarked Bayern's current sporting director, Max Eberl, decades ago.
Thirty years ago, the Bundesliga was still finding its footing in the limelight. "Lying disease" entered the league as a new phenomenon, and people were outraged. Former Eintracht Frankfurt player and president, Peter Kunter, famously remarked, "I've learned to lie so well in the football business that even my wife thinks I'm a scumbag." And who could forget Andreas Möller, a renowned German football talent, who unsuccessfully tried to deceive fans and teammates in the same era ("When Möller says 'I'll stay loyal to you' - fans know it's almost over," Maik H., 3300 Braunschweig).
A Masterclass in Deception
Möller's team of advisors, including his mentor Klaus Gerster, had planned for his professional football career carefully. They prepared a script for reporters dubbed "Proposals for answers to the public," containing general phrases like: "I have been playing for Eintracht Frankfurt since I was ... years old. I am a Frankfurter and an Eintracht fan. I feel very close to Eintracht Frankfurt and its fans."
Möller proved to be a good student when he later distributed flyers in the Waldstadion promising loyalty to Eintracht. However, just two months later, he was playing for Dortmund, leaving his fans and teammates feeling betrayed ("He has to look in his lie book first," Axel Kruse).
Möller's infamous appearance before the Dortmund South Tribune in September 1989 assured fans that he would never switch within the Bundesliga, only to join Juventus Turin shortly afterward. His teammate Heinz Gründel had predicted Möller's departure: "I would bet 100,000 marks on that. But I can't find a betting office that will take the bet."
The Audacity of Deceit
Möller was far from the only big name in the Bundlesiga who was not always entirely truthful. When asked about his contract, HSV manager Heribert Bruchhagen bluntly replied: "Hamburg is a city full of boulevard journalists. There can be disharmony there too. But one thing is certain: I will still be the HSV manager for a long time." However, this "long" time was over just ten days later.
Football fans grew weary of the deceit and surrounding talk. One who spoke his mind was the current cult referee, Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder from Oberhausen. When asked about rumors of his beer consumption, Ahli replied: "As befits a Ruhrpott resident, I had one. If I said I drank only water and Fanta before Bundesliga games, that would be a lie. I had a Pilsken, and that was that."
Honest Words Ringing Louder Than Ever
No wonder that football fans appreciated honest words all the more in the midst of such deceit. Today, we've almost grown accustomed to deceitful tactics in the Bundesliga, but back then, things were different. As the league continues to evolve and grow, we can only hope that honesty returns as a valued trait among players, coaches, and officials.
About the AuthorBen Redelings is a bestselling author and comedian from the Ruhr area. His current work is the "A goal would do the game good: The ultimate book of football truths" ("Little treasures for big laughter!", Bayern 1). He tours Germany with his football programs. Info & dates on www.scudetto.de.
- Despite the Bundesliga's growing prominence, deception and lies became prevalent, with celebrated players like Andreas Möller and his team of advisors using mechanisms such as scripted responses and flyers to deceive fans and teammates.
- After his surprising shift from Eintracht Frankfurt to Dortmund, Möller's infamous promise before the Dortmund South Tribune to never switch teams within the Bundesliga proved to be false, as he joined Juventus Turin shortly afterward.
- As fans grew tired of the deceit, referees like Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder offered a breath of fresh air with their honesty, with Ahlenfelder openly admitting to drinking beer before Bundesliga games.
