Overview
- A 26-year-old contestant, Noah Petrik, named “Igor Spassikowski” when asked who coaches 1. FC Union Berlin on RTL’s Wer wird Millionär?, and after using his phone-a-friend lifeline he dropped from the €2,000 question back to €500.
- The phone-a-friend caller, described by reports as a self-styled football expert, also advised the incorrect name and thus played a direct role in the contestant’s loss of prize money.
- Union Berlin responded with humor on social media, posting a screenshot of the question and joking about the options, and coach Mauro Lustrinelli said the club invited Petrik to a home match and believes he accepted.
- The invitation is likely for Union’s upcoming league home game against Köln, with outlets noting the team also faces Köln in the DFB-Pokal this week, though no independent confirmation of Petrik’s attendance has been published.
- The episode underlines how a small television mistake can create national attention and shows how German clubs use playful fan engagement and social media to turn gaffes into positive publicity.