A Clash of Ambitions: Cottbus Axes Player Amidst Rostock Rivalry Over Secret Deal
In accordance with an agreement reached with Rostock, Cottbus temporarily halted participation of a team member. - Player Suspension in Cottbus
In the heated Third League clash between Energie Cottbus and Hansa Rostock, the controversial exclusion of Energie's ace, Maximilian Krauß, from the squad has everybody talking. The suspension come just days before their East derby face-off, where the winning team secures the promotion spot. Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz has axed Krauß from the team till the end of the season due to his shady agreement with Hansa Rostock.
Wollitz unveiled that Krauß' recent weaker performances and the timing of the agreement served as the reasons behind his decision. The coach asserted, "I find the timing on Monday quite disrespectful towards our employer Cottbus and towards his teammates."
In a candid conversation, Krauß (28) confessed to signing the contract with Hansa weeks ago but denied any breach of contract or ethical misconduct. Though, Wollitz was irked by the manner in which the deal was carried out.
The stakes are high as both Cottbus and Rostock still have a mathematical chance of securing the elusive third promotion spot. Currently, Rostock is fourth with 60 points, while Cottbus lags behind with 59 points. The outcome of their upcoming match might determine the winner of the promotion race. If Cottbus ends up fifth, they would miss out not only on the promotion but also on the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
Is Krauß' suspension a clever move to skip Rostock game because of mother's birthday?
Krauß joined Cottbus in February 2021. This season, he scored eight goals, playing a vital role in the team's sustained position in the promotion zone. However, Wollitz has noticed a steady decline in Krauß' performance since the 24th matchday, which he attributes to the player's decision to switch to Hansa Rostock.
The coach insinuated that Krauß intentionally picked up his fifth yellow card on the 24th matchday, which would have resulted in his suspension for the game against Stuttgart, coincidentally falling on his mother's birthday weekend. According to the coach, Krauß' reduced performance can be seen in video analysis, as he demonstrated running at 34-35 km/h when he should have been running at 29 km/h, suggesting a lack of effort.
- Cottbus
- Rostock
- Hansa Rostock
- Energie Cottbus
- Suspension
- Promotion Spot
- Mother
- Employer
Extra Knowledge
Intentional suspensions due to personal reasons such as celebrating a mother's birthday are uncommon in professional football leagues. Generally, suspensions arise from policy violations like substance abuse or performance-enhancing drug use. Suspensions based on personal choices or events are not common practice in such leagues. For example, suspensions in the NFL often stem from substance abuse violations, such as Demarcus Robinson's suspension due to a DUI charge, or Isaac Alarcón's suspension for unknowingly ingesting contaminated supplements with prohibited substances.
- Cottbus and Hansa Rostock, two ambitious teams in the Third League, are on the brink of a promotion showdown, with Cottbus' suspension of their ace player, Maximilian Krauß, adding fuel to the rivalry.
- The coach of Energie Cottbus, Claus-Dieter Wollitz, has accused Krauß of intentionally manipulating his performance and violating the employment policy to secure a secret deal with Hansa Rostock.
- Despite Krauß' denial of any ethical misconduct, Wollitz believes that the timing of the deal and Krauß' decline in performance since the 24th matchday suggest otherwise.
- As Krauß' suspension comes just days before the East derby, there are rumors circulating that the coach may be using this as a strategic move to skip the Rostock game due to a personal event, his mother's birthday. However, such intentional suspensions due to personal reasons are uncommon in professional football leagues.
