Master and cup winner HB Ludwigsburg is about to end. The competition finds clear words. The Ludwigsburg board of directors defends itself. Worries about German women’s handball spread.
The financial collapse of the double winner HB Ludwigsburg Has triggered violent criticism in the handball Bundesliga. “I have to say clearly that this was a first and faded championship last year,” said Managing Director Maik Schenk from Thuringian HC. HB CEO Christian Köhle, countered on Tuesday evening in a press release, “that with this provocative appearance he not only harms himself, but also puts the entire women’s handball into a questionable light again”. Müller uses “the weak phase of his greatest rival to follow up with unfair means for the sporting defeats suffered in recent years,” said a Köhles statement, which he sent on Wednesday
“Fraud and deception”
His colleague Peter Prior from Buxtehuder SV fears a setback for the entire German women’s handball. “The amount of the demands cannot have arisen within a short time, so it was clearly lived over the background,” said Schenk. “Of course I would like to express my regret. But I would also like to make it clear that it is fraud and deception towards all other teams.”
“Huge challenge For the league “
In his opinion, the entire product suffered from more than 20 season games to be feared. “This will be a huge challenge for the league,” said Schenk. “Everything that was discussed at the league conference four weeks ago can no longer be used. With regard to the game plan and the mode, new ideas have to be thrown into the room.”
Prior fears “bitter setback”
The league must quickly find a way “how the season can be played most sensibly with only eleven teams,” says Buxtehude -Boss Prior – Even if the Ludwigsburgers have not yet fully written off a league start. “For women’s handball in Germany and the Bundesliga, the bankruptcy and the recovery of the HBL is a bitter setback-especially now that the number of spectators increases, the further development strategy is fruitful and a name sponsor for the league was found for the first time.”
In a letter, the league said that “on the basis of the existing facts” no decision can currently be made. It had to wait for further development, it said.
Worries also because of the home World Cup
Romina Heßler, Managing Director of HSG Bensheim/Auerbach, is mainly concerned about the upcoming home World Cup in winter. “That should actually be a moment of euphoria and a spirit of optimism – and of all things, now it turns out how fragile the reality in many clubs actually is,” she said. “There is no lack of sporting potential, but in financial planning, professional framework conditions and real appreciation. If we cannot initiate sustainable changes with a World Cup in the back – when?”
“Weck call for associations, politics, business and society”
In the Ludwigsburg case, Heßler sees “a wake -up call for associations, politics, business and society”. Therefore, “sustainable structures, reliable support and an environment in which players can develop in the long term – not despite, but because of the conditions in the German system,” she said.
HB Ludwigsburg had made the application to open insolvency proceedings two weeks ago. On Monday, those responsible informed the team that the financing of the upcoming Bundesliga season was not secured. The players – including many national players – are no longer tied to their contracts.
Broadcast on Tuesday, 5.8.2025 9:45 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
