Fredi Bobic was managing director at Hertha BSC until January 28th.Image: imago / Contrast
Bundesliga
After a year and a half as managing director of Hertha BSC, Fredi Bobic was over in January. On the day of the 2-0 defeat against Union Berlin, the 51-year-old was released from his duties by club president Kay Bernstein.
Hertha boss Kay Bernstein is said to have been dissatisfied with Bobic’s squad planning, among other things.Image: dpa / Soeren Stache
“We’re a long way from arguing,” Bernstein said the next day. Nevertheless, there is now a risk of a mud fight in court: How “Picture” reported, Hertha not only dismissed the managing director, but even terminated him without notice. According to this, Bobic and his lawyers are already considering taking legal action against the dismissal.
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Hertha BSC: Bobic terminated without notice due to verbal derailment
With the termination without notice, Hertha apparently wants to save the severance pay that would have been due in the event of a “proper” early dismissal. According to “Bild” it would have been a six-figure sum according to the contract – but only a fraction of Bobic’s annual salary of three million euros.
The basis of the “extraordinary” termination is therefore a freak out that Bobic had done after the derby (i.e. on the day of his dismissal).. After repeated unpleasant questions about the future of Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz, Bobic had threatened a reporter: “If you ask again, you’ll get a scour.”
This behavior – for which Bobic has since apologized – is interpreted by the presidency as damaging to the association.
Hertha BSC: Comparison to the “Jarstein” case is obvious
Blatant misconduct is required to justify termination without notice. A verbal derailment – even if punishable – is not necessarily sufficient. So Bobic’s misconduct after the derby provides a rather flimsy legal argument, especially since his sacking should have been apparent for some time.
That’s why Kay Bernstein makes no secret of it. The dismissal was “concretized a few days beforehand”, the Hertha President is quoted as saying by the “Bild”. “Then we made the strategic change of course.”
However, the argument that the incident is not sufficient reason for dismissal should also be difficult for Bobic: After all, as Hertha managing director, he had unilaterally terminated the contract with long-time goalkeeper Rune Jarstein – because of an alleged verbal blunder.
Jarstein is currently staying fit with Norwegian club Odds BK. His termination at Hertha is not yet final.Image: imago / NordphotoH
The Jarstein contract was terminated in good time at the time. However, since football players do not have kick-out clauses in their contracts, it was still an “extraordinary” dismissal. In addition, Jarstein was not the managing director of the group and did not have his alleged derailment broadcast live on TV.
The hearing in the Jarstein trial is still pending (March 2nd). Although Bobic was the mastermind behind this legal move, he will probably not testify for the Hertha side as a witness. However, it is quite possible that he will be asked about the not dissimilar case in the course of his own lawsuit.
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