Loew furious as bullying fans force player to quit
Source: AFP |
September 5, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GERMANY coach Joachim Loew has branded the bullying of Cologne's Kevin Pezzoni by fans as "unacceptable" after the defender was forced to quit the second division club after being threatened.
"It is unacceptable that this could happen," Loew said ahead of Germany's opening World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands on Friday in Hanover. "We have to seriously consider how to avoid such things happening in the future."
Nearly three years after Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide after suffering from depression, there are deep concerns here after Pezzoni, 23, quit Cologne having been confronted by menacing fans at his home last week.
A group of supporters targeted him by leaving a note on his car, threatening him with violence, then aggressively confronted him at home after organizing themselves using the Internet.
Having joined Cologne in 2008 from Blackburn Rovers, Pezzoni, who had his nose broken by a fan in February while celebrating in the city, told club coach Holger Stanislawski he no longer felt safe playing for the team. Cologne agreed to Pezzoni's request to end the contract.
Ulf Baranowsky, managing director of Germany's professional footballers union, said he was following the Pezzoni case with "horror".
"It is unacceptable that this could happen," Loew said ahead of Germany's opening World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands on Friday in Hanover. "We have to seriously consider how to avoid such things happening in the future."
Nearly three years after Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide after suffering from depression, there are deep concerns here after Pezzoni, 23, quit Cologne having been confronted by menacing fans at his home last week.
A group of supporters targeted him by leaving a note on his car, threatening him with violence, then aggressively confronted him at home after organizing themselves using the Internet.
Having joined Cologne in 2008 from Blackburn Rovers, Pezzoni, who had his nose broken by a fan in February while celebrating in the city, told club coach Holger Stanislawski he no longer felt safe playing for the team. Cologne agreed to Pezzoni's request to end the contract.
Ulf Baranowsky, managing director of Germany's professional footballers union, said he was following the Pezzoni case with "horror".
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