“Should have taken the team off the pitch”

Matthias Schmidt, player-coach TSV Ottobrunn II. © fupa

Following the abandonment of the game at TSV Poing II: Ottobrunner Kicker files a complaint after an altercation on the pitch.

Matthias Schmidt and his team were virtually “greeted” on their way to the dressing room by the abandonment of the game and its aftermath in the C-Class 7 (Munich) between SV Akgüney Spor München III and TSV Poing II. TSV Ottobrunn II, which Schmidt coaches as player-coach, had traveled to Neuperlach to the district sports facility on Max-Reinhardt-Weg for its away game in the A-Class 5 (Munich) against Akgüney’s second team (final score 2:2).

“The Poingers were a bit shocked and were off track when they came towards us,” Matthias Schmidt remembers the repeated phrases “five red cards” and “game abandoned”. However, this did not affect the preparation for his own match. In retrospect, says Schmidt, he should have worked harder during the match to have another game abandoned. “After we had gone 2-0 early (20th minute, ed.), I should have taken the team off the pitch. Because that is the only way to raise awareness of such incidents.”

The people from Poing were a bit in shock and were off track when they came towards us.

The TSV coach and deputy head of department is referring to a scene in the 32nd minute of the game that was not observed by referee Peng Tian (SV Riedmoos) or himself, following a duel on the halfway line. “One of my players comes along, his shirt covered in blood and his lip cut, and says that his opponent punched him.” Ottobrunn later posted an alleged photo of the bleeding mouth injury as evidence on social media.

The alleged altercation was preceded by an “exchange of words” after a physical “pushing away”. “The Akgüney player was immediately substituted and disappeared into the dressing room, but later sat back on the bench.” On the field, “everyone remained mostly calm until the end of the game and even the referee could not see the situation at all,” said Schmidt. “But the referee subsequently wrote a report to the sports court and reported an incident. We have three eyewitnesses, a doctor’s report and a complaint: I hope something happens now. It would be a shame if this player were allowed to play again next week.”

We have three eyewitnesses, a doctor’s report and a complaint: I hope something happens now.

In addition to written statements to the playing group and association management, the injured Ottobrunn player has reported the incident to the police, says Matthias Schmidt. There has not been a personal apology so far. “You can’t tar whole teams or clubs with the same brush. For example, the coach of Akgüney’s first team apologized to us. But unfortunately we are familiar with such situations from this league.”

In the case of unsportsmanlike incidents or disputes, such as those that apparently occurred at two football matches in a row at the district sports facility on Max-Reinhardt-Weg last weekend, the BFV district officials also take action as part of the “Fair Play Munich Concept”. The BFV district chairman for Munich, Frank Ludewig, has invited representatives from Akgüney Spor and TSV Poing to a personal, non-binding meeting next Tuesday evening, and has also requested written (non-public) statements from both clubs at the start of the week, which have now been received.

The events of last weekend leave me sad and shocked.

“The people involved keep bumping into each other at football matches. It’s important to find a basis on which we can start talking again.” Ludewig does not want to downplay the allegations in connection with the Sunday games in question, although he does not want to “consciously take a particular side” in his official capacity during ongoing sports court proceedings. “The events of last weekend make me sad and stunned. That is not the kind of football I imagine. Violence, including verbal violence, has no place on our football pitches in Munich and we will take consistent action against it.”