Arsenal
Former Manchester Metropolis and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Eike Immel – who as soon as claimed there have been instances when he was left with simply £2 in his checking account – has been sentenced to 2 years and two months in jail in relation to 107 instances of fraud. This comes after he filed for chapter and, due to this fact, started residing off advantages final summer season.
Immel was a proficient shot-stopper on the peak of his powers, having turned out for the likes of Metropolis, Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart, whereas he was additionally a one-time European Championships winner with Germany, who beat Belgium 2-1 within the 1980 ultimate.
His post-retirement life, like many different former gamers, has not been as fruitful. As talked about, he was declared bankrupt a yr in the past, and now he finds himself going through a two-year jail sentence after being discovered responsible of all instances by the district court docket in Marburg.
Immel to Face Two-Yr Jail Sentence For Fraud
In accordance with a report from German publication Bild, a big chunk of the instances are because of Immel, 64, borrowing cash and by no means returning it. Alongside that, he offered tickets to a European Championship sport however simply stored the cash. The whole worth of the cash in query is reported to be £29,775.
The previous goalkeepers’s defence cited his monetary insecurity as a motive for his failure/incapability to repay the cash that he owed, in keeping with Bild, who additionally supplied the assertion given in defence of the 64-year-old by his lawyer. It learn as follows:
“Mr Immel is deeply ashamed of what’s being mentioned right here within the courtroom right this moment. He lives hand to mouth. This reality has been publicly identified for years. [He is] not knowledgeable fraudster, however a failed former footballer.”
Bild additionally reported that the spouse of the late, World Cup-winning left-back Andreas Brehme is likely one of the victims of Immel’s felony exercise. She is reportedly owed €18,020 (65 funds) however was not required to look in court docket as a witness.
After spending simply shy of 20 years residing the dream, Immel ventured again to his hometown of Stadtallendorf, having been divorced by his spouse amid his monetary difficulties. Final yr, he claimed that, in such a time of financial-based wrestle, he typically has simply £2 in his financial institution.
“I now stay on £972 a month on advantages. £491 of that goes on hire, leaving me with simply £481 for different bills. It’s a actual battle to make ends meet. Typically I’ve simply £2 left. The furnishings within the flat have all been given to me, and a pal who runs an area restaurant lets me eat without spending a dime. I’m grateful for the assistance. However I want it didn’t should be this fashion.”
Immel made a complete of 43 appearances for Manchester Metropolis between 1995 and 1997, however he’s greatest remembered for his tenure within the Bundesliga, a division he performed 534 instances in earlier than shifting to England in the summertime of 1997.
His performances, in between the sticks, on the home stage caught the eye of Germany boss Jupp Derwall. He went on to accrue 19 worldwide caps between 1980 and 1988, profitable Euro 1980 earlier than being a part of his homeland’s runner-up campaigns on the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
