Coach Wollitz alleges fraudulent actions by his fellow professional.
By Torben Siemer
This piece discusses allegations of match-fixing in professional football; though no solid evidence has been presented, the seriousness of such claims demands attention.
Just before the end of the season, Maximilian Krauß's career took a turn for the worse. Suspended by Energy Cottbus, Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz made shocking accusations against his own player, Krauß, who was subsequently left to defend himself publicly. Oddly enough, Cottbus somehow managed to secure a spot in the promotion playoff final.
Back in mid-February, Krauß was still the match-winner for Energy Cottbus. In the home game against SC Verl, the midfielder came on in the second half and netted the decisive goal in the 59th minute. Cottbus was leading the 3rd league table, and dreams of a second consecutive promotion were alive in the Lausitz region. Three months later, the excitement has fizzled, and Krauß, once the match-winner, has become a scapegoat.
In a tell-all interview with MagentaSport, Wollitz referred to Krauß as "this figure" who "is still officially a player of Energy Cottbus, but not mine anymore." These words marked a low point in a development that appeared to leave nothing but losers in its wake.
The biggest loser at the moment? Maximilian Krauß. For most of the season, the 28-year-old was a mainstay for Energy, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. Now, Wollitz claims that his teammates removed the letter "K" from Krauß's locker, leaving nothing more than "rauß." Wollitz believes this alteration speaks for itself. The catalyst for this remarkable escalation? Krauß's decision not to renew his expiring contract and instead sign with Hansa Rostock for the following season.
Wollitz Suggests Krauß's Involvement in Match-Fixing
Rostock is both Cottbus's competition in the race for third place, which qualifies for the promotion playoff against the third-last team in the second league, and their next opponent. For Wollitz, the scandal isn't the transfer itself, but the timing: "I find the timing of Monday disrespectful towards the employer Cottbus and disrespectful towards the teammates." Krauß is suspended, and Wollitz makes the transfer and suspension public, also hinting at Krauß's alleged involvement in serious misconduct.
Wollitz even goes so far as to draw parallels with the infamous 2009 case at VfL Osnabrück, where players were suspected of deliberately playing poorly for money—resulting in the club's relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga. Wollitz's reasoning for the accusation? Krauß's sudden decline in performance after the 24th matchday, when he scored the winning goal against Verl. According to Wollitz, Krauß's sprint speed and overall effort significantly decreased afterwards.
Wollitz Must Substantiate His Accusations Against Krauß
Between the outburst in the press conference and the follow-up before the kick-off in Rostock, Krauß also made his voice heard publicly. Via the Third League media partner MagentaSport, he defended himself against accusations that could potentially ruin his career. "I'm shocked by the baseless statements of my coach," said Krauß, offering his side of the story. "We wanted contractual certainty until the end of April," regarding the contract for the next season. "We achieved this with our agreement last Monday." It seemed that the Cottbus offer didn't convey this "unconditional desire."
Moving forward, it falls on Wollitz to substantiate his accusations, which—if unproven—leave him in the spotlight. Not only because of the severity of his accusations but also because they could very well damage both Krauß's and Cottbus's reputations.
In the end, Cottbus wins the game against Rostock 3:1, securing a spot in the promotion playoff to the 2. Bundesliga. It's the fourth win since the Verl game, the fourth win in 13 attempts. Energy moved past Rostock and Saarbrücken, who both lost at home, to third place. With a home win next weekend, Wollitz's team can clinch a promotion spot. It's going to be an exciting finish to the season.
Source: ntv.de
- Claus-Dieter Wollitz
- Energie Cottbus
- Football
- Hansa Rostock
- Transfers and Rumors
- 3. Liga
Additional Information:As of the current available information, no verified or credible public evidence supports any implied or explicit match-fixing accusations made by Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz against Maximilian Krauß in relation to FC Energie Cottbus.
If you are looking for specific updates or detailed investigative reports, I recommend monitoring:- Official statements from FC Energie Cottbus- German Football Association (DFB) announcements- Trusted sports journalism outlets covering German football
- Despite numerous allegations, the Commission has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation within the context of sports, such as football.
- Meanwhile, in the world of football, rumors continue to circulate about Maximilian Krauß's transfer from Energy Cottbus to Hansa Rostock, causing tension and baseless accusations between the two clubs.
- As for sports, Energy Cottbus is currently leading in the 3rd league table, while football fans eagerly await the Bundesliga season to resume, possibly providing a basis for more engaging football discussions in cities like Cottbus.
- On a different note, it is crucial for coaches, like Claus-Dieter Wollitz, to substantiate their accusations before damaging the reputation of players, such as Maximilian Krauß, as it may impact their careers significantly.
