Luxembourg’s Gerson Rodrigues has been sentenced to a prison for multiple bodily harm. Nevertheless, he is nominated for the national team – the discussion about it.
On Friday, Luxembourg’s team will play a friendly against Slovenia at home. Coach Luc Holtz announced his squad on May 23, with: Gerson Rodrigues. At this point, Rodrigues had already been convicted in the first instance, a few days after the nomination, an appellate court confirmed the punishment: 18 months in prison for probation. Rodrigues was accused of beating his girlfriend at the time in November 2022. In addition, he is said to have broken bones on his face in front of a night club in Luxembourg city and struck another tooth. He denied the allegations – but now he is a convicted offender in the national team’s squad.
“The Board of Directors of the FLF finds that Gerson Rodrigues should not be punished by the association a second time and that he deserves a second chance”said Marc Diederich, Justice of the Luxembourg Association (FLF). “He got a punishment in court and we don’t want to judge him again for the same facts. But it is crystal clear, and he also got that that something like this should no longer happen.” But that started the discussion.
The game against Slovenia takes place in the Nation Stadium Stade de Luxembourg.
MPs require the exclusion of Rodrigues
Significant criticism of the nomination came from Luxembourg politics. “I react allergic to any form of violence. Gerson Rodrigues is an idol for children and therefore has a certain role model function”said the social democratic MP Liz Braz and called for Rodrigues’ exclusion for the duration of his punishment. Sports and private life cannot be separated at this level.
Other MPs of the Greens and the Pirate Party followed this. Former tennis player Mandy Mandy, MP of the Liberal Party DP, said at the Luxembourg broadcaster RTL: “If you play for Luxembourg, you are responsible – even away from the field. Sports Minister Georges Mischo from Conservative CSV was tackled in the parliament because he generally condemned violence, but did not specifically comment on the question of the nomination of Rodrigues’.
The debate in turn brought Luxembourg’s association president Paul Philipp in Rage. He declared the convicted violent perpetrator Rodrigues victim “Lynchmords”. In conversation with the Luxembourg newspaper Word, he called the MPs “Pseudo-politician who add their mustard”. The whole thing is the matter of the association. But he has now opened a second debate.
Paul Philipp, the President of the Luxembourg Football Association FLF
Debate about freedom of the press – trainers excludes journalists
The newspaper Le Quotdien announced that one of its journalists had been refused to participate in a media appointment with national coach Luc Holtz and two players in a telephone message, and the man may only take part in press conferences. “We can only regret this decision that undermines the basic freedom of the press”wrote the editorial team. Association leader Philipp said at RTL: “It is definitely not the case that a press organ is not desired. If Le Quotdien had sent another journalist, he would have got an interview without any problems.”
Luxembourg’s national coach Luc Holtz at a press conference
The requirement that only the coach was welcome to the coach was welcome to the appointment. “Sports journalism must be able to perform his critical role without having to fear retribution”the Luxembourg Journalist Association and the Sports Journalist Association of Luxembourg wrote: “Critical statements about personalities, personal or tactical decisions as well as the questioning of certain principles represent a fundamental interest of (sports) journalism.”
Sports Minister Mischo made it clear on this matter: “For me it is unacceptable to exclude a journalist because of critical questions. We have to protect freedom of press and expression.” He announced a conversation with the association president.
Rodrigues announces: “Will give an answer to the pitch”
Gerson Rodrigues actually plays at Dynamo Kiev, but is loaned at the Posrugiesian first division club AVS Futebol Sad. He thanked an Instagram contribution for the support of the association and announced that the answer “To give on the pitch”. Rodrigues could now also appear in the World Cup qualification against Germany, Luxembourg is the opponent of the German team in Group A. On October 10, Germany will play in Sinsheim against Luxembourg, the second leg will take place on November 14th in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg’s national team played a rarely strong qualification before the 2024 European Championship. Since the qualification competitions for the World Cup and EM were played in groups, Luxembourg has always been the last or penultimate. In the European Championship qualification, Luxembourg played third in his group behind Portugal and Slovakia and only failed in the play-offs on Georgia. Rodrigues scored five goals in eight games.
But Luxembourg’s height flight was short -lived. In the Nations League, Luxembourg became the last of his group without a win in League C and has to fear relegation in League D in the relegation against Malta – Andorra and Liechtenstein are waiting there.