Bielefeld. It’s tricky. At least some of those involved use this choice of words to describe the situation in which VfB Fichte Bielefeld is involved through no fault of their own.
What happened: At the beginning of 2020, a youth soccer coach from the club came up with the idea of taking part in a soccer camp in Barcelona during the Easter break. Players and some parents expressed their interest. So much for the description of Muhamed Saber, the father of a player. Then came Corona. The organizer canceled the trip.
Money was collected in the cafeteria
The problem: “We parents are still waiting for the money paid for the trip,” says Saber. He puts the total amount at around 9,000 euros. Some of the money was collected in the cafeteria on Rußheide, says Saber.
Later, parents repeatedly asked the trainer to repay the money in vain, according to Saber. Meanwhile, the coach no longer works for VfB Fichte. They split up last summer. “But that had purely sporting reasons and nothing to do with the matter,” says football department head Jobst Hölzenbein.
“The club never got any money”
A last deadline for parents expired last October. “The coach said the club had the money,” says Saber. The club firmly rejects this claim. “Surprised and very annoyed,” said Mike Arendt, VfB Fichte’s chairman, about the development: “This is what we’re talking about A trip that the trainer organized without our knowledge and without the association’s order. “
Since some parents had turned to the club’s board, the club management dealt with the case.
She did her own research and found that a deposit received by the tour operator has apparently been refunded after deducting a small fee. “But the club never received any money, and nothing was paid to a club account,” says Jobst Hölzenbein.
Association hires lawyer to clarify
The club then “took money into their own hands and called on a lawyer,” reports Arendt: “Our lawyer asked the trainer concerned twice to describe the situation. Nothing that could be used came back.” An attempt by this newspaper to contact the trainer resulted in an unavailable mailbox.
VfB Fichte has an interest in the parents getting their money back, but does not feel responsible for it. “This club trip was organized without our knowledge. According to our lawyer, the association cannot be held liable for this, “says Arendt. This has already been partially communicated to the parents concerned.
Corona situation complicates the situation
However, the corona situation has been making communication difficult for months. It is up to the parents to take further steps, says Mike Arendt. Muhamed Saber says that he has not yet heard from the association and seems disappointed: “They have known about it since September and are putting us off.” Saber announced that he would now hire a lawyer himself.
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