Bundesliga scandal (1971)
Encyclopedia
Bundesliga scandal refers to the malicious, for-profit manipulation of games in the 1970–71 German soccer championship season.
, Horst-Gregorio Canellas, presented an audio-tape to DFB officials and a few journalists at his 50th birthday garden-party. In that tape, several players, including German internationals Bernd Patzke
and Manfred Manglitz
, offer to let themselves be bribed to help Offenbach avoid relegation.
The chief prosecutor of the DFB, Hans Kindermann, found out that amongst others the 17 April 1971 game Schalke
-Bielefeld
that ended 0–1 for the visitors had been "sold" by Schalke's players and board of directors. Afterwards, nearly all Schalke players were banned for long periods, while several lifetime bans were imposed.
The players maintained their innocence, and even swore an oath to that, but the oath was eventually proven to be false. To this day, Schalke's rivals, especially from the Ruhr
occasionally refer to Schalke as FC Meineid (German for "FC Perjury").
Fifty-two players, two managers, and six club functionaries were punished. Also, Bielefeld and Offenbach had their license to participate in the Bundesliga
revoked. Offenbach would have been relegated due to their sporting performance anyway, despite the manipulated games, but Bielefeld was to play in the next Bundesliga season. Eventually, Bielefeld had to play all 34 games of the 1971–72 season, but would be relegated after the season, independently of their record.
*Strictly speaking, the game was not manipulated, but the Braunschweig players were promised and given for winning this game an additional bonus by a third party, which was illegal.
History
The manipulation of games was revealed when the president of Kickers OffenbachKickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
, Horst-Gregorio Canellas, presented an audio-tape to DFB officials and a few journalists at his 50th birthday garden-party. In that tape, several players, including German internationals Bernd Patzke
Bernd Patzke
Bernd Patzke is a former German football player.-External links:*...
and Manfred Manglitz
Manfred Manglitz
Manfred Manglitz is a former German football player.Outspoken Manglitz had been one of a handful of West Germany international footballers involved in the match fixing Bundesligaskandal in 1971, in consequence receiving a lifetime ban from the ordinary courts of the German Football Association...
, offer to let themselves be bribed to help Offenbach avoid relegation.
The chief prosecutor of the DFB, Hans Kindermann, found out that amongst others the 17 April 1971 game Schalke
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
-Bielefeld
Arminia Bielefeld
DSC Arminia Bielefeld is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia offers the sports of football, field hockey, figure skating and cue sports. The club has 11,394 members and the club colours are black, white and blue...
that ended 0–1 for the visitors had been "sold" by Schalke's players and board of directors. Afterwards, nearly all Schalke players were banned for long periods, while several lifetime bans were imposed.
The players maintained their innocence, and even swore an oath to that, but the oath was eventually proven to be false. To this day, Schalke's rivals, especially from the Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
occasionally refer to Schalke as FC Meineid (German for "FC Perjury").
Fifty-two players, two managers, and six club functionaries were punished. Also, Bielefeld and Offenbach had their license to participate in the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
revoked. Offenbach would have been relegated due to their sporting performance anyway, despite the manipulated games, but Bielefeld was to play in the next Bundesliga season. Eventually, Bielefeld had to play all 34 games of the 1971–72 season, but would be relegated after the season, independently of their record.
Manipulated games
- 17 April 1971: SchalkeFC Schalke 04Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
-BielefeldArminia BielefeldDSC Arminia Bielefeld is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia offers the sports of football, field hockey, figure skating and cue sports. The club has 11,394 members and the club colours are black, white and blue...
0–1 - 5 May 1971: Köln1. FC Köln1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
-EssenRot-Weiss EssenRot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
3–2 - 8 May 1971: OffenbachKickers OffenbachKickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
-OberhausenRot-Weiß OberhausenRot-Weiß Oberhausen is a German association football club in Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was formed as Oberhausener SV in December 1904 out of the merger of Emschertaler SV and the football enthusiasts of Oberhausener TV 1873...
3–2 - 22 May 1971: Köln-Oberhausen 2–4; DuisburgMSV DuisburgMSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
-Bielefeld 4–1 - 29 May 1971: Bielefeld-StuttgartVfB StuttgartVerein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
1–0; Offenbach-FrankfurtEintracht FrankfurtEintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
0–2 - 5 June 1971: BraunschweigEintracht BraunschweigEintracht Braunschweig is a German association football club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. The club was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and won the national title in 1967.-History:...
-Oberhausen 1–1*; Hertha BSC-Bielefeld 0–1; Köln-Offenbach 4–2
*Strictly speaking, the game was not manipulated, but the Braunschweig players were promised and given for winning this game an additional bonus by a third party, which was illegal.
Players
- Hertha BSC: Tasso Wild, Bernd PatzkeBernd PatzkeBernd Patzke is a former German football player.-External links:*...
, Jürgen RumorJürgen RumorJürgen Rumor is a former professional German footballer.Rumor started his footballing career at 1. FC Köln, where he made 56 Fußball-Bundesliga appearances before moving to 1. FC Kaiserslautern. After 63 games, Rumor transferred to Hertha BSC. As a Hertha player, Rumor was involved in the 1971...
, Laszlo GergelyVasile GergelyLászló Vasile Gergely is a Romanian former football player.-Career:Gergely played for CSM Baia Mare , Viitorul Bucharest , Dinamo Bucharest in Romania and Hertha BSC Germany, and Durban City in South AfricaHe played a total of 145 games in Divizia A, scoring seven goals and 35 games in Bundesliga...
, Volkmar GroßVolkmar GroßVolkmar Groß is a retired German football player. He spent 7 seasons in the Bundesliga with Hertha BSC, Tennis Borussia Berlin and FC Schalke 04. He represented Germany once in a friendly against Greece. He scored one goal in the Bundesliga from a penalty kick.In 1967, Groß began his career with...
, Peter Enders, Wolfgang Gayer, Arno SteffenhagenArno SteffenhagenArno Steffenhagen is a retired German professional football player who played in Germany for Hertha BSC, Hamburger SV and FC St. Pauli, in South Africa for Hellenic FC, in the Netherlands for Ajax, and in North America for Chicago Sting, Toronto Blizzard and Vancouver Whitecaps...
, Karl-Heinz FerschlKarl-Heinz FerschlKarl-Heinz Ferschl is a retired German football player. He spent nine seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Nuremberg and Hertha BSC.-External links:...
, Hans-Jürgen Sperlich, Franz BrungsFranz BrungsFranz Brungs is a retired German football coach and player. As a player, he spent eight seasons in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, 1. FC Nuremberg and Hertha BSC.-Honours:* Bundesliga champion: 1967–68...
, Jürgen Weber, Michael Kellner, Uwe Witt, and Zoltán VargaZoltán Varga (footballer)Zoltán Varga was a Hungarian football player who played in the 1960s and 1970s.He was an Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played for Ferencváros when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965, beating Juventus 1-0 in the final...
.
- VfB StuttgartVfB StuttgartVerein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
: Hans ArnoldHans Arnold (footballer)Hans Arnold was a German football player. He spent eight seasons in the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart. The best result he achieved was fifth place. He was involved in the Bundesliga scandal in 1971.-External links:...
, Hartmut Weiß, and Hans EiseleHans Eisele (footballer)Hans Eisele was a German football player. He spent 8 seasons in the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart. The best result he achieved in the league was 5th place.-External links:...
.
- FC Schalke 04FC Schalke 04Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
: Klaus FichtelKlaus FichtelKlaus Fichtel is a former German international footballer who played as a defender....
, Hans-Jürgen WittkampHans-Jürgen WittkampHans-Jürgen Wittkamp is a retired German football player. He spent 11 seasons in the Bundesliga with FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach.-Honours:* European Cup finalist: 1977.* UEFA Cup winner: 1975.* UEFA Cup finalist: 1973....
, Rolf RüssmannRolf RüssmannRolf Rüssmann was a German international footballer who played as a defender for FC Schalke 04, Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund.-Player bio:...
, Herbert LütkebohmertHerbert LütkebohmertHerbert Lütkebohmert was a German footballer who played for and TSV Marl-Hüls, Schalke 04 and 1. FC Bocholt.-External links:...
, Manfred PohlschmidtManfred PohlschmidtManfred Pohlschmidt is a retired German soccer player.He started his Bundesliga career with Preussen Muenster in the 1963/64 season. He retired from professional soccer 1970/71 as a midfielder for Schalke 04....
, Hans PirknerHans PirknerJohann "Hans" Pirkner is a former Austrian football forward.-Club career:Pirkner played for several clubs, including Schalke 04 , Austria Wien and First Vienna FC....
, Jürgen Sobieray, Klaus FischerKlaus FischerKlaus Fischer is a German former football player and coach.-Career:Fischer was born in Kreuzstraßl, near Lindberg in the district of Regen....
, Reinhard LibudaReinhard LibudaReinhard "Stan" Libuda was a German footballer playing on the right wing....
, Dieter BurdenskiDieter BurdenskiDieter Burdenski is a former German football player.-Early and family life:Dieter Burdenski is the son of Herbert Burdenski , who was a German international himself...
, Klaus Senger, Jürgen Galbierz, and Heinz van HaarenHeinz van HaarenHeinz van Haaren is a Dutch former football midfielder.-External links:* at worldfootball.net...
.
- Arminia BielefeldArminia BielefeldDSC Arminia Bielefeld is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia offers the sports of football, field hockey, figure skating and cue sports. The club has 11,394 members and the club colours are black, white and blue...
: Waldemar SlomianyWaldemar SlomianyWaldemar Piotr Słomiany is a retired Polish soccer defender. Słomiany spent the most successful years of his career at Górnik Zabrze, winning several championships of Poland in the 1960s...
and Jürgen Neumann.
- MSV DuisburgMSV DuisburgMSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
: Volker DannerVolker DannerVolker Danner was a German football player. He spent nine seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Saarbrücken, Borussia Mönchengladbach, MSV Duisburg and Hamburger SV.-Honours:* Bundesliga champion: 1969–70...
and Gerhard KentschkeGerhard KentschkeGerhard 'Gerd' Kentschke is a retired German football player and coach. As a player, he spent 9 seasons in the Bundesliga with Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and MSV Duisburg. The best league finish he achieved during those years was 5th place...
.
- Eintracht BraunschweigEintracht BraunschweigEintracht Braunschweig is a German association football club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. The club was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and won the national title in 1967.-History:...
: Lothar UlsaßLothar UlsaßLothar Ulsaß was a German football player. He spent 9 seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig...
, Horst WolterHorst WolterHorst Wolter is a former German international football player.A Bundesliga winner with Eintracht Braunschweig in 1967, Wolter was doing occasional jobs in the West Germany goal in between 1967 and 1970...
, Wolfgang GrzybWolfgang GrzybWolfgang Grzyb was a German football player. He spent 12 seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig.-External links:...
, Peter KaackPeter KaackPeter Kaack is a retired German football player. He spent 10 seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig.-External links:...
, Franz MerkhofferFranz MerkhofferFranz Merkhoffer is a retired German football player. He played 419 games in the Bundesliga. He is the record holder for most games played for Eintracht Braunschweig, where he spent his whole career.-External links:...
, Bernd GersdorffBernd GersdorffBernd Gersdorff is a retired German football player. He spent 12 seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig, FC Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC. He also played once for the Germany national football team .-External links:*...
, Klaus GerwienKlaus GerwienKlaus Gerwien is a retired German football player. He spent ten seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig. He also represented Germany six times, including a 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cyprus and five friendlies .-External links:...
, Rainer Skrotzki, Eberhard Haun, Jaro Deppe, Dietmar Erler, Friedhelm HaebermannFriedhelm HaebermannFriedhelm Haebermann is a former German football player and manager.Haebermann made a total of 229 appearances for Eintracht Braunschweig in the Fußball-Bundesliga during his playing career. He also represented West Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics.-External links:...
, Joachim BäseJoachim BäseJoachim Bäse is a retired German football player. He spent 10 seasons in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Braunschweig. He also represented Germany once, in a friendly against Wales.-External links:*...
, Michael Polywka, and Burkhard Öller.
Club officials
- OberhausenRot-Weiß OberhausenRot-Weiß Oberhausen is a German association football club in Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was formed as Oberhausener SV in December 1904 out of the merger of Emschertaler SV and the football enthusiasts of Oberhausener TV 1873...
: Peter Maaßen - Hertha BSC: Wolfgang Holst
- OffenbachKickers OffenbachKickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
: Horst-Gregorio Canellas, Friedrich Mann, Fritz Koch, and Waldemar Klein.
External links
- Der Bundesliga-Skandal 1971: Das Ende der Unschuld (in German)
- Der Bundesliga-Skandal vor 34 Jahren (in German)
- Der Bundesligaskandal 1971 (in German)