Energie Cottbus Under Fire: Wollitz Suggests Match Fixing by Krauß
Wollitz, the coach, alleges his employee of committing fraud.
Author: Torben Siemer
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As the season winds down, Energie Cottbus finds itself in a whirlwind. Maximilian Krauß, once a crucial player, is now suspended and under fire. Claus-Dieter Wollitz, the coach, raises serious allegations against Krauß, who defends himself publicly. Somehow, Cottbus manages to clinch a spot in the promotion playoff final.
In mid-February, Krauß is still the game-changer for Energie Cottbus, contributing as a substitute and scoring the winning goal against SC Verl in the 59th minute. Cottbus leads the 3rd league table, with dreams of a second consecutive promotion alive in the Lausitz region. Less than three months later, the excitement fades, replaced by Krauß, now regarded as an outcast.
Wollitz labels him "the figure" who is no longer part of Energie Cottbus in an interview with MagentaSport. This comment marks a low point in a series of events that seem to have only losing parties. The biggest loser at the moment is Maximilian Krauß. For most of the season, the 28-year-old is a regular player for Energie, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. Now, Wollitz claims his teammates have removed the "K" from Krauß' locker, leaving it as "rauß." The catalyst for this unusual turn of events is Krauß' decision not to renew his expiring contract and sign with Hansa Rostock for the upcoming season.
Wollitz Fumes Over Krauß' Move
Rostock isn't only Cottbus' competitor in the fight for third place but also their next opponent. For Wollitz, the scandal isn't the transfer itself, but the timing or, more precisely, the disrespect towards the employer Cottbus and his teammates. Krauß is suspended, with Wollitz announcing the transfer and suspension in a remarkable press conference, also making serious accusations against the midfielder.
The coach even implies Krauß' involvement in match-fixing, much like his experience in 2009 at VfL Osnabrück. The Lower Saxons were relegated due, in part, to at least one player intentionally underperforming for money. Wollitz hints at a similar situation involving Krauß.
Wollitz bases his accusation on Krauß' improved performance until the 24th matchday, the match in which he scored the winning goal against Verl, followed by a significant decline in his statistics, suggesting that Krauß was intentionally underperforming. He also suggests that Krauß intentionally earned his fifth yellow card against Verl in stoppage time to avoid missing a personal event. However, Wollitz does not provide concrete evidence or proof for these accusations.
Krauß Fights for His Reputation
Between the press conference and the match against Rostock, Krauß also speaks out publicly via the Third League media partner MagentaSport, defending himself and refuting the damaging claims. "I'm shocked by my coach's baseless statements," says Krauß, presenting his side of the story. "We wanted contractual certainty until the end of April, which we've achieved with our agreement last Monday. The Cottbus offer didn't give us that 'unconditional wanted' feeling."
Despite the controversy, Cottbus surprises everyone with a 3-1 victory in Rostock. This is only their fourth win since the Verl game and the fourth win in 13 attempts. Cottbus moves past Rostock and Saarbrücken, who both lose at home, to third place. A home win next weekend will secure a spot in the 2. Bundesliga promotion playoffs for Wollitz's team. It promises to be an exciting finish.
Sources:- ntv.de
- Claus-Dieter Wollitz
- Energie Cottbus
- Football
- Hansa Rostock
- Transfers and Rumors
- 3. Liga
- 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, similar to the scrutiny Maximilian Krauß is under at Energie Cottbus.
- In Cottbus, Maximilian Krauß' locker was altered, from "Krauß" to "rauß," a move reminiscent of a sports drama, not a regular workplace.
- As the controversy around Maximilian Krauß continues, with Claus-Dieter Wollitz implying match-fixing, it's hard not to draw parallels between this situation and the VfL Osnabrück case in 2009.
- Despite the turmoil caused by the allegations, Maximilian Krauß chose to discuss the matter on WhatsApp, a platform more often associated with casual chats and group discussions, rather than a formal medium, to defend his reputation.
