Again trouble for Martin Hinteregger
Martin Hinteregger also causes excitement off the field at Eintracht Frankfurt. There are new developments in the allegations of right-wing extremism.
Frankfurt – Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger sees himself as a victim of a campaign, goes to journalist Bonvalot, who defends himself – the future of the Austrian is more uncertain than ever.
New trouble about Martin Hinteregger. In an interview with the Sky TV channel, the Eintracht defender described the Austrian journalist and blogger Michael Bonvalot as a “left-wing extremist journalist” who “used him as a pawn”. “I have the reach and I bring the attention. I don’t know what it’s really about, but something’s going on in the background. We will expect it at some point.” The well-known reporter had revealed that the 29-year-old had maintained business relationships with the right-wing populist Heinrich Sickl. In the meantime, the Eintracht professional has broken the connection.
Eintracht Frankfurt: dispute between Hinteregger and journalist Bonvalot
Of course, Michael Bonvalot defends himself and finds the national player’s statements strange. “I can’t understand what he’s saying,” he says in an interview with FR. “The facts are obvious. But you know that: go to the person if you can’t shake things up.” The freelance journalist is also irritated by the terminology. As a “left-wing extremist journalist” he is being persecuted in the right-wing Austrian media, including on two platforms published by Heinrich Sickl. “The framing surprises me. So I ask myself: where did Martin Hinteregger get such messages and statements from?”
Bonvalot also finds the statement that he, Hinteregger, doesn’t know what’s behind everything, but that it was predicted, strange: “These are formulations that we know from conspiracy stories. As if there were dark forces at play in the background.”
Hinteregger sees himself as a victim of “a media hunt”. The footballer insists that he had no idea that Heinrich Sickl was right. “He was 30 years away from Sirnitz, if someone had warned me I would have done it differently. But I didn’t know.”
Eintracht Frankfurt: FPÖ for Hinteregger not comparable to AfD
In an interview with “Standard” he nevertheless admitted that he knew Sickl. “I know that he was a FPÖ politician, which isn’t a bad thing in Austria. But I didn’t know anything about the Identitarian Movement or what that meant,” Hinteregger said. “In Germany, many bring the FPÖ and AfD on the same level, but the AfD is ten times worse.” An admission that causes a shake of the head. Also at Bonvalot. He equates the FPÖ, about which he published a book in 2017 (“Party of the Rich”), with the AfD. “It’s the same soup.”
The player wonders why he was pilloried, even though 30 or 35 major events with international artists took place at Albeck Castle. The property where a party embedded in the ‘Hinti-Cup’ was to have taken place, which was then cancelled, is owned by the Sickl family. “I’m right in the middle of it now, but I have nothing to do with the matter, front and back,” he complains. An argument that Bonvalot does not accept. “It obviously didn’t pop up like that before, but that doesn’t change the facts. If ten people behave badly, I don’t have to do it too.”
Eintracht Frankfurt: threats against reporters
The reporter, who is respected in Austria, has had to swallow a lot in the past few days. Threats and abuse en masse. Other critically reporting media, such as the FR, also cause many borderline or rude comments. Bonvalot puts it away. Because of his work, he “regularly receives death threats”, and at some events, such as corona marches, also personal security. “It’s uncomfortable, but you get used to it,” he says.
It could also be uncomfortable for Hinteregger if he meets those responsible in Frankfurt. The Eintracht superiors are extremely upset about the scandal and the aftermath. A separation does not seem out of the question either, even if the player said he wanted to end his career in Frankfurt. (Ingo Durstewitz)