Munich and Cologne – Cologne’s manager Horst Heldt is furious about hate comments and death threats on the net against Timo Horn. Even professional footballers are “no fair game”, emphasizes Heldt.
The embarrassing 1:6 on the last Bundesliga matchday against Werder Bremen is still on the minds of 1st FC Cologne.
“You simply cannot present yourself like that. We are still angry and disappointed with what we have produced,” manager Horst Heldt told the Express.
But what makes him even angrier are the public hostilities against goalkeeper Timo Horn. “But there were also limits that were crossed. We are not fair game. Death threats and similar calls in social media are unbearable and intolerable for anyone – not even for footballers,” he said, referring to hate comments on the net against Cologne’s regular keeper.
Heldt: “Like in ancient Rome”
“People should ask themselves why they pick you out in a team sport and point their thumbs up or down like in ancient Rome. I was brought up differently there,” Heldt let his anger run free.
Apparently, the persons addressed are fans of the Cologne rival Fortuna Düsseldorf. Horn, a native of Cologne, had already placed his bets on a relegation of the Düsseldorfers on RTL Nitro in January. “It would be very nice if we were able to grab the direct receipt of the class. And as a Cologne native, it would then be the Düsseldorfers I’d still like to see there,” he said at the time.
Horn obtain statements
These statements have now caught up with Horn, who had shown one of his worse performances against Bremen.
But Heldt also says: “We are not responsible for the results of the others, everyone has 34 matchdays to deliver results. I don’t have to apologise or justify myself for the standings.”
Indeed, Fortuna could have defended their relegation spot by winning at Union Berlin on their own. But after the 3-0 win, the Düsseldorfers will have to move on to the 2nd Bundesliga.