Scandal surrounding VfL Osnabrück: Ex-coach in court for match-fixing!

Scandal surrounding VfL Osnabrück: Ex-coach in court for match-fixing!

A hot topic is currently being tackled in football: Marco Antwerpen and Frank Döpper, the former coaches of VfL Osnabrück, are suspected of trying to influence the results of a cup final. This reports fr.de. The Lower Saxony Cup final, which took place on May 24, 2025 against BW Lohne and was lost 2-4, is the focus of the DFB investigation. In particular, a call to the player Bernd Riesselmann is being investigated.

According to reports, Riesselmann, who was on loan at VfL, received a call immediately before the crucial game in which he was advised to call in sick and not play. This information was confirmed by the player's agent, who praised Riesselmann for his courage in reporting the incident to the club. The connection to the call was made via a member of the coaching team, with Antwerp and Döpper said to have put pressure on the player.

Investigations and possible consequences

The DFB has now initiated the investigation, which led to Antwerp and Döpper being dismissed without notice at the end of May 2025. The case file also contains allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct, which relate to the DFB training regulations. The trainers have now filed a lawsuit for protection against dismissal, but this has been put on hold due to the ongoing investigation, as NDR reports: ndr.de.

The oral hearing of the DFB sports court is scheduled for August 28, 2025. If the allegations are confirmed, Antwerp and Döpper must expect drastic consequences: fines, suspensions and even the revocation of their coaching license could be at stake.

A look at the background

What makes the situation even more explosive? Loud zdf.de There is a nationwide suspicion of betting fraud in football. In the last two years, 17 games are said to have been manipulated, which sheds further light on the current situation within the German football scene. The third division and the lower leagues seem to be particularly vulnerable to such machinations, as not only the players but also referees are often poorly paid.

Although the focus is on the DFB investigations against Antwerp and Döpper, the issue of match-fixing throughout German football does not go unnoticed. Especially after the betting scandal surrounding DFB referee Robert Hoyzer was uncovered in 2005, the need for a comprehensive investigation and stricter controls increased.

VfL Osnabrück has not yet commented on the allegations and refers to the ongoing proceedings. The coming negotiations could not only point the way for the coaches concerned, but also for the integrity of football in Germany.