Roger Wittmann attorneys vow to take ‘legal action’ after Hoffenheim protests | OneFootball

Controversial footballing agent Roger Wittmann – through his lawyers – has responded to protests lodged against him by Hoffenheim supporters in the Bundesliga this weekend. One of Wittmann’s attorneys, Dominik Höch, has spoken directly to Kicker about the protest actions. Höch promised “legal action“, though he did precisely specify what sort of action would be taken.

Höch conveyed to Kicker that one particular banner allowed him some legal recourse. An “Öffentlichkeitsfahndung” (“public manhunt“) banner referenced the fact that Hoffenheim fans believe that Wittmann (in attendance at the stadium) should be banned from the grounds in accordance with the club’s original intentions.

In Höch’s view, the banner qualified as “criminal speech” in that the text “comes across as serious” and “is not a play on words”. Höch argued that the banner thus infringes on his client’s personal safety. Höch also argued against general defamation and Wittmann’s right to “protect his image“.

“That was a deliberately hurtful sign that significantly violates our client’s personal rights, in particular his right to his own image,” Höch told Kicker. “He does not have to accept such a profile. To the uniformed reader [of the sign], it is suggested that there is actually a public manhunt for our client and that he is suspected of a serious crime.

“Criticism is permitted in the tough business of football, but this crosses the line,” Höch continued. “It is also completely incomprehensible that the club did not sufficiently oppose the distribution of the ‘wanted posters’ around and inside the stadium and did not protect the rights of a very good business partner.“

GGFN | Peter Weis