"Gotta shave that mane!" Footballer Peter Közle's haunting escape from his Bundesliga fans
Underground Flight Taken by Bundesliga Player Due to Intimidation from Supporters
By Ben Redelings
The Bundesliga of 30 years ago shook with a heartbreaking tale. MSV Duisburg's star forward, Peter Közle, took a drastic measure - he fled his own supporters. Overwhelmed by fear, he hid to escape the hate of the very fans who once lauded him for his impressive performances on the field.
In the first season back to the top league, MSV Duisburg and Közle shined, earning ninth place and a place in history by leading the table on the 22nd matchday with a negative goal difference of one. However, the joy quickly turned into a dismal spectacle as the troubles began to surface. A season of struggles followed, Közle's goal-scoring slowed, and the crowd's love turned into a wave of criticism.
Közle later revealed, "I wanted to live a normal life and not isolate myself. As a footballer, I'm not a special person. I wanted to be one of many." But instead, he found himself becoming an easy scapegoat for the failed season. The fans, initially applauding him from the stands, soon turned vicious. "They were looking for a scapegoat," Közle recalled. "First they were at my feet, then they kicked me with their feet." What began as verbal taunts escalated into threats of physical violence - "Come out, you bastard!" and "We're going to cut your hair off!"
In response to the unfathomable treatment, Közle made the difficult decision to flee. He terminated his contract with MSV Duisburg, sacrificing a substantial sum of money in the process, and went into hiding. The once revered figure became untraceable. The fans continued their relentless pursuit, circling his apartment, demanding he show himself. During this dark period, Közle found solace in Bayern Munich, where he was allowed to train to keep in shape.
As the season dragged on, Közle's former team suffered the consequences of his absence. MSV Duisburg ended up relegated from the Bundesliga. However, Közle's luck took another turn when he landed with VfL Bochum, coached by Klaus Toppmöller, who was known for his affinity towards challenging personalities. In time, Közle returned to the Ruhr area, where he still resides today.
Közle eventually reconciled with MSV Duisburg and its supporters, returning to the club for a single season five years after his escape. Although years have passed, the memory of that terrifying chapter in his life remains vivid in Peter Közle's mind.
- Football
- MSV Duisburg
Trivia: Although Peter Közle's story gained notoriety due to the unique nature of his flight from his own fans, there is no evidence of him having any history of fan harassment. Conversely, popular opinion suggests that Közle was an unassuming and likable figure, who, unfortunately, became an unfortunate pawn in the hands of overzealous supporters.
I'm not going to be able to continue playing football for MSV Duisburg due to the hostile treatment I received from the fans, which escalated to threats of physical violence. Despite the initial adulation and acclaim, the fans turned against me, leading to my decision to flee the club.
