Hertha goalkeeper Gersbeck charged for punching victim in the eyes

 

BERLIN – Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck has been charged in Austria with grievous bodily harm.

This follows a criminal complaint filed with the Salzburg regional court, the Salzburg public prosecutor’s office announced on Monday.

The main hearing is scheduled for September 28.The 28-year-old is accused of having punched and kicked his victim on July 16 close to Hertha’s training camp in the Austrian town of Zell am See. Gersbeck, suspended by his German second-division club, has so far not publicly commented on the allegations.

The victim suffered eye injuries, the prosecutor’s office added. Gersbeck faces a possible prison sentence of six months to five years if found guilty in court.

Hertha stated that they were waiting for legal developments before deciding on any further action. The goalkeeper had only returned to Hertha in June.

Sporting director Benjamin Weber has not commented on media reports that Gersbeck has reached an out-of-court settlement with the victim and that the civil case had been resolved.

In an unrelated case, the public prosecutor’s office in the German city of Heidelberg has charged a Hoffenheim steward with actual bodily harm for allegedly pushing a Schalke fan down some stairs during a Bundesliga match in April.