By Roberto Lamprecht and Paul Gorgas
Success for Rune Jarstein (39)! According to BZ information, the Norwegian goalkeeper will receive a severance payment of more than 400,000 euros from Hertha BSC.
This means he emerges victorious after a long legal battle with his ex-employer.
Hertha’s sports director Fredi Bobic (51) terminated Jarstein in November 2022 because he was said to have been abusive towards goalkeeping coach Andreas Menger (51) in a conversation.
The goalkeeper, who was initially suspended and then terminated with extraordinary notice, originally demanded 490,000 euros from Hertha. The sum is based on the Norwegian’s claims for seven months of loss of earnings of 70,000 euros each. His contract would have expired on June 30, 2023.
Judge Dr. On September 7th, Katharina zum Kolk proposed a settlement of 350,000 euros to both parties. The next chamber meeting with a decision would have been in a week on October 12th. Now an agreement will be reached out of court, as BZ learned from those close to the club.
Marius Gersbeck will soon be training again at Hertha despite the accusation of serious bodily harm Photo: Jan-Philipp Burmann/City-Press
The fact that Hertha is now paying Jarstein significantly more than the 350,000 euros suggested by the judge is also related to the pardon of goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck.
He had beaten up a local at the training camp in Zell am See in July, breaking his eye socket and causing a maxillary sinus wall fracture and eyelid hematoma. According to the Salzburg regional court’s ruling (payment of 40,000 euros), Hertha will bring the suspended keeper back to professional training next week.
In contrast, the attempt to terminate Jarstein without notice because of an alleged insult seems helpless. And would have had little chance of success in court.
After all: Hertha still saves money. The club pays less than the required sum of 490,000 euros (that was the pure monthly salary required). And possible premium payments do not have to be paid either.
What had Jarstein been accused of?
Jarstein is said to have said to his then goalkeeping coach Menger on August 12th last year in a room with ex-manager Bobic and ex-coach Sandro Schwarz (44): “You are a liar.”
Menger is said to have replied: “You portray me as a liar, as if I were an asshole.” Jarstein’s harsh counter: “You are also an asshole, a liar, a no-no! You have to go!”
Jarstein denied until the end that he had insulted Menger. According to his lawyer Horst Kletke, he was only making objective criticism.
Now Jarstein has come into his own – and his money. And Hertha will soon even get his well-deserved farewell in the Olympic Stadium.