Brawl at training camp
Hertha keeper charged with grievous bodily harm
08/28/2023 3:43 p.m
Hertha BSC beat Greuther Fürth 5-0 at the weekend. It is the first victory in the fourth second division game. The Bundesliga relegated is slowly finding peace, but the case of Marius Gersbeck continues to boom. Charges are now being brought against him in Austria. The charge: serious bodily harm.
Hertha goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck has been charged in Austria with serious bodily harm. A criminal complaint had been filed with the Salzburg Regional Court, the Salzburg public prosecutor announced. The main hearing is scheduled for September 28th. The 28-year-old is accused of punching and kicking the victim on July 16 at the Berlin training camp in Zell am See. Gersbeck has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The victim suffered an orbital floor fracture, a maxillary sinus wall fracture and a lid hematoma, albeit negligently, according to the public prosecutor’s statement. A possible prison sentence of six months to five years was mentioned for the offense of serious bodily harm.
Hertha suspended the goalkeeper after the incident. He has been training individually on the grounds of the Olympiapark Berlin for a few weeks. Most recently, the club said that they were waiting for legal developments before deciding how to proceed. The goalkeeper only returned to Berlin from Karlsruhe in the summer as a beacon of hope. He should be a key player for the “Berlin way”, which was also taken out of financial difficulties.
Sports director Benjamin Weber did not comment explicitly on media reports that Gersbeck was said to have reached an out-of-court agreement with the alleged victim and that the case would at least be clarified under civil law. Hertha President Kay Bernstein commented on the Gersbeck case in mid-August. It was “totally difficult to find the right way,” he said on Sky: “There will be no right way. There will be no winner in this whole incident.” The decision as to how things will continue with the goalkeeper lies in the hands of the Hertha managers around Managing Director Thomas Herrich.
The capital club did not want to comment on the accusation. “Since this is still an ongoing process, we ask for your understanding that we cannot and will not comment at this time,” said a statement from a club spokeswoman.