The sending off of Stuttgart’s Atakan Karazor, the role of Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold – even days after the game between Stuttgart and Wolfsburg (2:2), this wrong decision is causing discussions. The VfL captain speaks up again.
Ongoing discussions: Referee Sven Jablonski (left) with Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor and VfL captain Maximilian Arnold.
IMAGO/Christian Schroedter
Maximilian Arnold’s social channels have been heavily targeted for the past few days; it seems to be primarily fans of VfB Stuttgart who, mostly anonymously, rain down insults and threats against the captain of VfL Wolfsburg. “I wish you a cruciate ligament rupture soon with all my heart,” said one Instagram user, while another wished “have fun when you come to Stuttgart in February.” Now Arnold is speaking out again on this matter. At LinkedIn the 30-year-old writes: “I hope that my children don’t have to read such comments about their dad online in the future.”
I hope that my children don’t have to read such comments about their dad online in the future.
Wolfsburg captain Maximilian Arnold on LinkedIn
The trigger was the situation that led to Atakan Karazor being sent off last Saturday. Arnold was a step faster in a duel with his VfB colleague, who had already been warned, and played the ball, then caught the opponent’s ankle. The Wolfsburg man went down, convulsed and had to be treated, Karazor was incorrectly sent off by referee Jablonski.
And Arnold came under criticism and was declared an actor, including the panel of experts Sport1 one-two Stefan Effenberg took aim at the VfL captain. The 30-year-old reported a stitch in his ankle after the game and did not want to comment on the referee’s decision. Which earned him further criticism.
Arnold and Karazor were now in contact
On Tuesday, Karazor took the floor and asked that insults and hate comments be avoided, saying that this applies “not only to Mr. Jablonski, but also to Maxi Arnold. That simply doesn’t belong to us, to VfB.” At that point there had been no further contact between the Stuttgart and Wolfsburg residents, but this has now changed: Arnold and Karazor spoke to each other again on the phone. The VfL captain: “I’ve now spoken to him about the scene, and for him the topic has been ticked off.”
The Wolfsburg player also writes on a profile on LinkedIn: “Football thrives on intense duels and I am someone who always gives my all. The scene in the game against Stuttgart caused some discussion afterwards. On Saturday I felt a pain at that moment “Anyone who has ever played football knows that there are situations that you as a player may perceive differently at the moment than outsiders do. I didn’t have the opportunity to watch the scene again.”
“I will continue to play like this: with full commitment and heart”
He commented on the opponent’s sending off: “It wasn’t my decision that Atakan saw the red card. Tackles are part of the game and I will continue to play the way I always have: with full commitment and heart. But never with the intent to injure an opponent.”
“I received some very unpleasant news”
Above all, the flood of negative messages and opinions towards him prompted Arnold to speak out again. “It’s important to me to take a stand on this because a lot of people have commented on it and I’ve also received some very unpleasant news. I know football means emotions and that’s a good thing, that’s why we love it too. But I I hope that my children don’t have to read such comments about their dad online in the future.”
It continues again on Saturday (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). VfL Wolfsburg will play with Arnold at VfL Bochum, while VfB Stuttgart played against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday (7:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). With Captain Karazor? VfB has lodged an objection against the 27-year-old’s one-game ban.
