Uggggh! Looks like the Gestapo and the Stasi have returned to Germany...

[Some Moran]

Effenberg fined for 'arsehole' insult


BERLIN, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Former Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder Stefan Effenberg has been fined €100,000 for calling a policeman 'arsehole' after being stopped for speeding.

A judge in the northern city of Braunschweig ruled that Effenberg, who now plays in Qatar, had insulted the officer and should pay the maximum fine of 20 daily rates of €5,000 because he refused to state his income.

Effenberg, 35, was also fined an additional €400 for two cases of speeding along the A2 motorway in northern Germany in February, when he was playing for VfL Wolfsburg.

The former Bayern captain denies insulting the policeman who flagged him down and his lawyer said he may appeal against the fine. Clearly angry, Effenberg marched out of the courtroom without commenting to the waiting press.

Effenberg told the court he had not said the word 'Arschloch,' but had been misunderstood when he said 'schoenen Abend noch,' which sounds similar when spoken rapidly and means 'Have a nice evening.'

Klaus Ziehe, spokesman for the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office, said: 'This is the usual fine for this type of insult.' The daily rate was so high because of Effenberg's estimated assets, he said.

Effenberg told the court he was being discriminated against because of his reputation.

He is known for his fiery temperament and his brush with the law is the latest in a series of controversial incidents in a turbulent career.

Effenberg was sent home in disgrace from the 1994 World Cup in the United States after giving fans a single finger gesture when he was substituted amid boos following a poor performance in a group game against South Korea. He made a brief comeback for Germany years later but his international career never really recovered.

The enfant terrible of German football also attracted unwanted publicity off the pitch. He was heavily criticised last year after making controversial remarks about unemployed people in Germany, whom he accused of being lazy.

Two years ago he paid a £50,000 out-of-court settlement after being charged with assault for hitting a woman in a Munich nightclub.

[ShaneGR]

1. Gestapo and Stasi??? Huh?

Dude, an asshole got a speeding ticket and got a fine for mouthing off. He's a known jerk, and your article clearly shows he's a woman beater too. Did you even read the article?

Sounds to me like the guys a criminal. The cops need to keep an eye on him.

[htuttle]

2. Have you ever sworn at a cop here in the US?

Try it sometime. Especially when they have you stopped for a speeding ticket.

[Some Moran]

3. So?

He's not a judge, and you're not in a court of law.

[ShaneGR]

4. Did you read your article??

The enfant terrible of German football also attracted unwanted publicity off the pitch. He was heavily criticised last year after making controversial remarks about unemployed people in Germany, whom he accused of being lazy.

Two years ago he paid a £50,000 out-of-court settlement after being charged with assault for hitting a woman in a Munich nightclub.

[TahitiNut]

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