From BZ/dpa
What happened that July night in Zell am See? Hertha goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck has to answer before the Salzburg regional court. The public prosecutor’s allegations against the Berliner are serious.
In room 301 of the Salzburg Regional Court the decision is made Marius Gersbeck possibly the future career path as a professional footballer. A good two months after a night-time incident at Hertha’s training camp, the goalkeeper has to face allegations from the Austrian public prosecutor’s office.
Hertha President Kay Bernstein has a problem with his ultra-buddy Gersbeck from the curve Photo: picture alliance/dpa
This accuses the 28-year-old of serious bodily harm. In the event of a guilty verdict after the hearing before a single judge on Thursday (11 a.m.), which is scheduled to last a maximum of two hours, the currently suspended goalkeeper faces a prison sentence of six months to five years according to Austrian law.
Marius Gersbeck is a native of Herthan and made his Bundesliga debut at Borussia Dortmund in December 2013 Photo: Florian Pohl
Gersbeck is said to have punched and kicked a 22-year-old in Zell am See on the night of July 16th. The alleged victim suffered facial fractures and an eyelid hematoma. Gersbeck has not yet commented publicly on the allegations.
According to the investigating authorities, he did not provide any information in an initial interrogation by the police shortly after the events. In August it was reported that Gersbeck had settled a possible civil lawsuit by reaching an agreement with the alleged victim.
Weber: “Shit, I thought so”
The exact events of the altercation in the Alpine holiday resort are not yet known. According to media reports, a dispute arose between Gersbeck and locals about a possible bicycle theft after attending a folk festival. According to Hertha BSC, Gersbeck had left the team hotel without permission at this time of day. Sports director Benjamin Weber In the Hertha documentary “Shit, think to yourself” published last week, reported on the eventful Sunday morning in Salzburger Land when the police appeared in the hotel lobby and concluded with those same words. “Shit, I think.”
Gersbeck’s teammates were also dismayed by the events. “First of all, I was very surprised when I noticed it, because Marius is a fine guy, a great boy. We got along really well,” said striker Florian Niederlechner. He got to know Gersbeck as a responsible person. “With Toni (Leistner), with Gersi, the three of us are the family men who get up earlier than everyone else. That’s why it was a shock,” said the striker.
Very popular with fans
At Hertha BSC, even before the court hearing, there had been different opinions in the club committees about how to deal with Gersbeck, who is popular with fans. According to reports, President Kay Bernstein was looking for ways to continue to employ the goalkeeper, who himself was in the fan curve at the Olympic Stadium when he was a teenager. After Gersbeck’s suspension and Oliver Christensen’s transfer to Fiorentina, Tjark Ernst, just 20 years old, is currently Berlin’s number one.
Youngster Ibrahim Maza regrets that Gersbeck is not there Photo: picture alliance/Nordphoto
Gersbeck had returned from Karlsruher SC to his youth club in Berlin for the new season and was supposed to lead the young team on the hoped-for path back to the Bundesliga. The currently injured young hopeful Ibrahim Maza regretted the events surrounding the goalkeeper. “I thought it was a shame because Marius really looked after us well, he often helped us and gave us tips. He was just a really cool person,” said the 17-year-old.