Former ÖFB national team player Martin Hinteregger is said to have knocked over a fan during a football match in Carinthia.
Martin Hinteregger caused a stir in the Carinthian lower leagues over the weekend. In the match between ASKÖ Mittlern and his team Sirnitz, the guest coach allegedly knocked a fan to the ground after Mittlern’s late winning goal. Eyewitnesses would support the ex-national team’s player’s actions, said a Mittlern official in the “Kleine Zeitung”. As confirmed by the Carinthian Football Association on Monday, Mittlern has filed a criminal complaint.
The affected man has reportedly filed a complaint for battery with the police, according to the “Kleine Zeitung” (Monday edition). “Football is often emotional, but a seasoned ex-professional should not be provoked into such an act. Hinteregger has a responsibility,” a statement from Mittlern was quoted. No official from Sirnitz was available for a statement at this time.
Criminal complaint filed
In a video released by Mittlern, a fan can be seen being knocked over by a man approaching him after the goal made it 4-3 for Mittlern. It is not visible whether the former professional Hinteregger (31) is the one involved. The Carinthian announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 in 2022 and returned to his homeland. Just before that, he had won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Carinthian Football Association stated upon request that Mittlern has since filed a criminal complaint. This is set to be addressed by the disciplinary committee on Wednesday. Sirnitz and Mittlern play in the lower league East, the fifth highest tier in Austria’s league system. (APA)