Call of donations for funeral
Ulli Potofski apparently died impoverished
10.08.2025 – 6:34 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The last wish of the long-term TV reporter was to be buried on the “Schalke fan field”. But now there are obviously difficulties.
Last week, reporter legend Uli Potofski died at the age of 73 after a short, serious illness. Numerous companions, football clubs and personalities from the media world mourned for the long-standing TV journalist. The “Bild” newspaper later reported: Potofski is apparently to be buried between a few club legends of his favorite club FC Schalke 04. This was Potofski’s wish.
But now these plans apparently come across a major hurdle – and draw a more dramatic picture of Potofski’s last years. Because the Gelsenkirchen native apparently died impoverished – and did not have the necessary financial resources.
Because the charity organization “Schalker Markt”, a foundation founded by the former S04 club director Clemens Tönnies, spread a call for donations for the late Potofski. “In the absence of our own financial possibilities, we were asked as a Foundation Schalke Market by friends and family to help with the fulfillment of his last wish”, says in the call, which Sky reporter Dirk Große Schlarmann also shared at X.
The “Bild” reports that the “Schalker Fan-Feld” cemetery, which designs like a soccer field, wants to provide an urn grave for 2,800 euros instead of the usual 7,000 euros.
The news that Potofski, who worked for RTL, the DSF (today Sport1) and for the Pay TV station Sky for many years, apparently had no more money. However, there are no reasons for the financial situation.
According to the “picture”, both his last life partner and his wife, from whom separated, tried “for a dignified farewell” for Potofski.