Suspension remains in effect
©IMAGO
Jean-Luc Dompé is still not allowed to play for HSV. His suspension remains in place for the time being, and the winger also received a fine from Hamburg, which the club described in an official statement on Tuesday as a “HSV record fine”. The amount is in the six-figure range. Dompé was caught driving drunk during a traffic stop at the end of January – not the first offense in his time with the Rothosen. The 30-year-old Frenchman has now publicly commented on his behavior for the first time.
“I am aware that a simple apology is not enough,” Dompé is quoted as saying in the Hamburg statement. “I have absolutely not lived up to my role model role. I have made serious mistakes and of course I have to bear the full consequences for them. I can understand the disappointment of the club, the coaching team and all the fans who have always supported me up to this point. I am incredibly sorry. I am also incredibly sorry that I let the team down in this phase, in such important weeks.”
Dompé came on as a substitute in the city derby at FC St. Pauli (0-0) on matchday 19. The next day he was picked up by the police. The left winger was missing from HSV’s remarkable 2-2 draw against FC Bayern last Saturday. How long the club will maintain the suspension depends on how the player behaves in the future. Dompé explained to the club management in a conversation on Tuesday that he wanted to make “social commitment”. Dompé is scheduled to start training again this week.
After the incident last week, “Bild” reported that Dompé had a blood alcohol level of 1.4 during the traffic check. In February 2023, Dompé made headlines when, like his teammate William Mikelbrencis, he was involved in a traffic accident in St. Pauli and then left the scene. “I didn’t live up to my responsibility in this situation,” Dompé said back then.
