Unveiling an Exposed Effort to Alter Outcomes Prior to the Cup Showdown
In a shocking turn of events, former coaches of VfL Osnabrück, Marco Antwerpen and Frank Dopper, have found themselves embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. The duo has filed a protective dismissal lawsuit, suggesting a summary dismissal, following allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct and attempted match manipulation.
The scandal centres around Bernd Riesselmann, a striker who was loaned from Osnabrück to Blau-Weiß Lohne. According to reports by "OM-Medien," Antwerpen and Dopper exerted repeated pressure on Riesselmann to avoid playing in a key match, the Lower Saxony Cup final against Lohne on May 24, 2025.
The evidence suggests that the coaches did not approach Riesselmann directly but tried to influence a staff member to convince the player to either declare himself ill or play without intensity. The pressure included warnings that participating could harm Riesselmann's future career with Osnabrück. Riesselmann's agent confirmed these inappropriate pressures and immediately reported the issue to the VfL, which then contacted the DFB's independent ombudsman, prompting a formal investigation by the federation.
Riesselmann was allegedly threatened with consequences if he did not follow this advice. However, the intimidation attempt was not successful, as Riesselmann was substituted in the 56th minute in the final when the score was 2:2 and scored the goal that led to the 4:2 final score in favour of Löhne.
As a result of these allegations, both Antwerpen and Dopper face potential fines, suspensions, and in the worst case, the withdrawal of their coaching license. The court hearings for VfL Osnabrück, Antwerp, and Dopper are scheduled this month at the labor court and the sports court. The DFB sports court has set an oral hearing for the end of August to investigate these allegations.
Meanwhile, Riesselmann and Janotta, another key player involved in the scandal, will only be spectators next weekend when their former club hosts SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the DFB-Pokal. The goal that put the score at 2:0 in the match that led to VfL Osnabrück's elimination from the DFB Cup was scored by Janotta, whose transfer from Löhne to Osnabrück had already been announced before the final.
This scandal has sent shockwaves through the football community. The football team of TuS BW Lohne, a sports club in the Oldenburg Münsterland region with around 4,000 members, has risen from the Landesliga to the Regionalliga in recent years. The court cases will provide clarification about the legality of the dismissal and the serious allegations of match manipulation.
The publishing house "OM-Medien," which emerged from the merger of Münsterländische Tageszeitung and Oldenburgische Volkszeitung, closely follows TuS BW Lohne. When asked for comment, neither BW Lohne nor VfL Osnabrück wished to comment on the report, referring to the ongoing procedure.
As the investigation continues, the future of Antwerpen, Dopper, and VfL Osnabrück hangs in the balance. The football world eagerly awaits the outcome of the court hearings to determine the truth behind these shocking allegations.
The football world is eagerly awaiting the court hearings for VfL Osnabrück, Marco Antwerpen, and Frank Dopper, who face potential fines, suspensions, and even the withdrawal of their coaching license due to serious allegations of match manipulation.
Meanwhile, community aid is being sought to construct new buildings for the sports facilities of TuS BW Lohne, a sports club in the Oldenburg Münsterland region, as they seek to clarify the legality of a dismissal and the serious allegations against them.
