Overview
- The DFB-Bundesgericht reduced Marco Antwerpen’s suspension from 12 months to a three-month coaching ban for unsportsmanlike conduct effective from August 28, which is set to expire on Friday.
- The court overturned in full the three-month suspension previously imposed on assistant coach Frank Döpper.
- Judges said the allegation of attempted match manipulation was not proven, calling Antwerpen’s remarks a misunderstanding but negligent because they could be misinterpreted as interference.
- The case stemmed from the NFV-Pokal final in May involving loaned striker Bernd Riesselmann, who played for TuS Blau‑Weiß Lohne and scored despite reported requests to skip the match.
- With the DFB decision final, the separate labor dispute over VfL Osnabrück’s May dismissals of Antwerpen and Döpper proceeds to a December hearing at the Osnabrück labor court.