Chaos at Energy Cottbus: Coach Wollitz Points Finger at Own Players for Fixing Matches
The Professional Under Question is Facing Charges of Deception Instituted by Coach Wollitz
By Torben Siemer
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As the season winds down, Maximilian Krauß finds himself in hot water with Energy Cottbus. Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz throws serious allegations, Krauß fights back in the public eye. Strangely enough, Cottbus clinches a spot in the promotion/relegation final.
The story takes an ugly turn in mid-February, with Krauß still the hero for Energy Cottbus. In a home game against SC Verl, the midfielder comes off the bench and scores the decisive goal in the 59th minute. Cottbus is leading the 3rd league table, and dreams of a second straight promotion dance in Lausitz country. Fast forward less than three months later, and the excitement is replaced by a bitter aftertaste, Krauß transitioning from match winner to public enemy.
His coach, Claus-Dieter Wollitz, lays it all out in an interview with MagentaSport. Scathing words such as "this figure" and "no longer mine" mark a dramatic escalation in a tale that seems to only end badly for all involved.
The biggest casualty at the moment is Maximilian Krauß. The 28-year-old had been a regular starter for Energy for most of the season, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. Now, it seems that Wollitz has run out of patience. The coach reports that Krauß's teammates have defaced his locker, changing the letter "K" to "rauß." The spark? Krauß's decision not to renew his contract, instead opting for Hansa Rostock in the new season.
Wollitz Levels Serious Accusations against Krauß
Rostock represents both Cottbus's fierce competition in the race for third place, securing a playoff spot against the third-to-last team in the 2nd league and their next opponent. For Wollitz, it's not the transfer itself that's troubling, but its timing: "The timing, just before the final games of the season, shows a lack of respect for the club and the team." Krauß is suspended, and Wollitz goes public with the transfer and suspension, accusing the midfielder of unspeakable misconduct.
Wollitz even goes so far as to insinuate Krauß in the infamous 2009 match-fixing scandal at VfL Osnabrück, where at least one player was bribed to intentionally lose a game. Hinging his accusations on improbable stats, Wollitz reasons that Krauß "was the best substitute in the league" up until the 24th matchday, and his supposed decline in performance after scoring against Verl is suspect.
Football 3. Liga sends shockwaves Dresden rises with defeat, Bielefeld on the brink Wollitz hints at Krauß intentionally earning his fifth yellow card against Verl in injury time, ensuring a suspension for the next game and missing his mother's birthday. But Wollitz falls short when it comes to providing proof or concrete evidence for these damning allegations.
Wollitz Needs to Substantiate Allegations against Krauß
Between the media frenzy and the verbal barrage before the Rostock game, Krauß speaks out publicly through MagentaSport. He vehemently denies the baseless claims that could ruin his career. "I am shocked by my coach's unfounded statements," Krauß says, presenting his side of the story. "We sought contract certainty until the end of April, which we secured with our agreement last Monday. The Cottbus offer did not seem to convey 'we want you unconditionally.'"
Football MSV Duisburg far from the dream "It's almost laughable we're even celebrating promotion to a league we never wanted" Wollitz responds in Rostock, claiming he "sticks to the facts" and "never makes false claims; I merely recount events reported to me." However, if these allegations - subpar play, intentional card accumulation, and insinuations of being a match fixer - cannot be proven, Wollitz needs to take the heat. He is the one responsible, not just for the severity of his accusations but also for failing to provide substantial evidence.
Ironically, Cottbus wins the game in Rostock 3-1, sealing their third place finish. It's only the fourth win in 13 attempts since the Verl game. Energy surges past Rostock and Saarbrücken, who both lose at home, to clinch a berth in the relegation playoffs for the 2nd Bundesliga. It's all to play for.
Source: ntv.de
- Claus-Dieter Wollitz
- Match-Fixing Scandal
- Energie Cottbus
- Football
- Hansa Rostock
- Transfers and Rumors
- 3. Liga
- Despite the Commission not yet adopting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, enough evidence in the sports world, such as the match-fixing scandal, warrants thorough investigations into such incidents.
- In the case of Energy Cottbus, coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz, who has faced chaos due to allegations of match fixing, might find it useful to base his case on suspicious statistics, like improbable performances or intentionally earned suspensions, rather than unfounded insinuations.
- Energy Cottbus, now qualified for the relegation playoffs, would greatly benefit from ensuring secure contracts for their players to reduce the risk of internal conflict and maintain team morale during crucial games.
- Maximilian Krause, recently accused of match-fixing, needs to prioritize building his own case and providing concrete evidence to clear his name, as the sports community looks on to see how the Commission addresses such allegations.
