2024-04-03 06:12:41
“We are proud of our team. You made our country dream. And they are an example for the next generations of players.” This is the message that Luc Frieden (CSV), the Prime Minister, published on Tuesday night on Facebook, after Luxembourg’s victory over Kazakhstan, at the Stade du Luxembourg.
The chief executive’s message was released at the end of the game, the night on which Gerson Rodrigues, born in Portugal, scored a goal and scored a decisive pass against Kazakhstan.
The following day he appeared in court to answer to three charges of violence and injuries, namely for attacking his girlfriend at the time. That same day, the sentence dictated his sentence, in the first instance, to a suspended prison sentence of 18 months and a fine of 1,500 euros.
His party colleague, deputy Tommy Klein, former co-director of Ilres, went even further, stating on the same social network: “A man convicted of assaulting a woman cannot be on a sports team that represents our country. FULL STOP”. The same opinion was shared by David Wagner, deputy for déi Lénk, another opposition member in the Chamber of Deputies.
Asked to comment on this issue, which became quite heated in the space of a few hours, the Minister of Sports, Georges Mischo (CSV), preferred to avoid the issue, limiting himself to declaring: “it is not appropriate to comment on the internal affairs of a federation ”.
This position was undoubtedly motivated, at least in part, by the fact that FIFA, the body that governs world football, prohibits any political interference in its federations, under penalty of sanctions.
Gerson Rodrigues sentenced to 18 months suspended sentence
Public figure must “set an example”
Mandy Minella, former professional tennis player and new deputy for DP, CSV’s partner in government, does not have the same reservations. “A public figure has responsibilities towards society and must also serve as an example”, declared the former Luxembourg Fed Cup player to Virgule, on Thursday morning.
“Gerson Rodrigues, therefore, has a responsibility towards all young people and children who dream of following the same football path as him. And this type of behavior cannot, in my opinion, be excused. If he is found guilty, the FLF must sanction him for at least a certain period of time.
Mandy Minella refers to the reconfirmation of the footballer’s guilt in the court of second instance.
Gerson Rodrigues’ lawyer, Guillaume Rauchs, has already told RTL that the striker will appeal the sentence. Since his sentence is suspended, he will again be considered innocent, at least until the verdict of the appeal process.
Gerson Rodrigues away from the game against Portugal and has no date to return
Waiting for the Appeal’s decision
“If the court confirms this decision in the second instance, it will be up to the football federation to remove the consequences”, added, for her part, Joëlle Welfring, deputy and former minister, spokesperson for the Greens for sport.
The decision of the second instance will weigh, at least in the eyes of the FLF, on the Luxembourg Football Federation. When asked about the process involving Rodrigues, the president of the FLF, Paul Philipp, told Virgule, a few days ago, that “setting an example is very important for the FLF. But it is not the federation’s role to replace the courts…”
In other words, the current Slovan Bratislava player can continue to be called up to the national team as long as he is not formally convicted in the second instance. Provided, of course, that the appeal’s verdict confirms the previous one.
Or previous Dan Da Mota
For now, this position is legally unassailable. But what happens if the Court of Appeal confirms the player’s conviction? The question seems legitimate, taking into account Dan da Mota’s precedent.
Aggressions and insults. Gerson Rodrigues trial continues in November
The former international was called up to the Luxembourg national team in May 2021, just weeks after the Court of Appeal confirmed a two-year suspended prison sentence (and a €5,000 fine) for the former international. Remember that he was tried for abusing a 91-year-old person.
“I want to give him a second chance. Dan is motivated, wants to play and deserves his place in the squad. We need strong players up front”, explained coach Luc Holtz at the time.
At the time, Dan Da Mota had 98 games for the first team and has now reached a hundred. Gerson Rodrigues, on the other hand, is 61 and is the best scorer in the history of the national team, with 21 goals…
2024-04-03 06:12:41