Suche
Mein Konto
Shock in football: Luxembourg's national team nominates convicted player!
Luxembourg international Gerson Rodrigues, convicted of assault, is nominated for international matches despite political criticism.
Shock in football: Luxembourg's national team nominates convicted player!
The nomination of Gerson Rodrigues is causing heated discussions in the Luxembourg football scene. The Luxembourg national team player was sentenced to 18 months in prison for multiple bodily harm. According to information from GMX Rodrigues, who was recently convicted of violent offenses, will be selected for the upcoming international matches. The allegations include that Rodrigues both beat his then-girlfriend and inflicted bloody injuries on several men outside a nightclub in Luxembourg City in November 2022.
The incidents that led to the conviction included serious bodily harm. Rodrigues is said to have broken bones in one man's face and knocked out another's tooth. Despite his assurances that he denied the allegations, the verdict was upheld by an appeals court. The Luxembourg Football Association (FLF), however, is supportive: Association president Paul Philipp described the criticism of Rodrigues as a “lynching” and called for the player to be given a second chance.
Political reactions and internal tensions
The decision to include Rodrigues in the national team caused a stir in politics. Social Democratic MPs, including Liz Braz, are calling for his immediate exclusion from the team. She argues that players like Rodrigues should serve as role models for youth. Sports Minister Georges Mischo also expressed criticism, but without taking a clear position. National coach Luc Holtz accused politicians of using Rodrigues for their own purposes, which led to a tense situation.
The debate over the nomination will be more intense, especially in view of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Germany on October 10th and November 14th. The FLF's board of directors sees Rodrigues as a victim of excessive punishment and opposes the prevailing political criticism, while Holtz and Philipp vehemently defend the association's decision.
Personal and sporting perspective
Gerson Rodrigues currently plays for the Portuguese first division club AVS Futebol SAD, where he is on loan from Dynamo Kiev. In a recent Instagram post, he thanked the association for its support and announced that he would respond on the pitch. Despite the political turmoil and serious allegations, the Luxembourg national team has shown some positive performances in the European Championship qualifiers, but is under pressure to avoid relegation to League D due to its poor performance in the Nations League.
In summary, Rodrigues' nomination poses major challenges not only for sport but also for society in Luxembourg. The discussion shows how important role models are in sport and the responsibility that comes with it.