Mudslinging in handball: Bankrupt club hits back at "notorious troublemaker"
The verbal tussle between the two clubs continues.
(Photo: picture alliance / Marco Wolf)
The suffering is great in the women's handball Bundesliga. Champion HB Ludwigsburg is bankrupt – and their fiercest rival is furious. Thüringer HC has been accused of fraud. The insolvent club, however, isn't about to take this lying down.
The CEO of the financially struggling German women's handball champions HB Ludwigsburg has sharply rejected the recent public attacks by Thüringer HC coach Herbert Müller. In a letter he sent, Christian Köhle accuses the THC coach of "baseless allegations" and a destructive agenda.
The "notorious troublemaker Herbert Müller from long-time league partner THC" is "unskillfully using public attention, as expected, to spread unsubstantiated claims, baseless insinuations, and unrealistic demands," the board chairman wrote in a statement titled "Commentary on media statements by THC."
After Ludwigsburg announced on Monday evening that it could no longer fulfill its players' contracts following its insolvency filing, Müller demanded in the Thüringer Allgemeine newspaper that Ludwigsburg "give back" its recent titles. Financially, the club had "swindled and cheated its way to the last two championships. That must be stated clearly."
Attempt to "kick back with unfair means"THC Managing Director Maik Schenk, who recently accused Ludwigsburg of fraud and deception against all other teams, is also in Köhle's sights. This accusation is "fabricated," the CEO wrote.
Attempts are being made to "kick back using unfair means," Köhle added. Müller's words even create the impression that THC, which was dethroned from the league throne in 2017, is "less interested in a constructive solution to the problem and more interested in verbally forcing its indomitable long-time rival out of the game instead of helping to avert further damage to the entire league."
Köhle demanded consequences from the league for his critic. It remains to be hoped that the HBF officials "will finally show the red card for such grossly unsportsmanlike behavior," he wrote.
The club had announced it would continue fighting for its license. However, the league announced it would reconsider the award. The Supercup appearance has already been canceled, and Ludwigsburg will be replaced by THC. Last season's double winner has also lost its Champions League berth. However, the league reiterated on Wednesday that revoking titles is "not an issue."
Source: ntv.de, ara/sid
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