Lukas Podolski could be fined after his farewell match. What was the legend's offence?
Liam Carter
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Former Germany striker Lukas Podolski, at 39 years of age, has decided to hang up his boots.
The German of Polish descent marked the occasion with a farewell match in Cologne, attended by 50,000 fans. However, the event led to some legal trouble for "Poldi" with local authorities.
Details: According to The Sun, after the match, Podolski joined the fans and lit a flare, which is prohibited by law in German stadiums. As a result, the German football legend may face a fine if his actions are deemed illegal.
Cologne police have filed a report, and Podolski now faces a court hearing.
Former director of the local police and head of stadium operations in Cologne, Volker Lange, did not hold back in his criticism of the forward, calling him "a bad role model."
Quote: “First of all, it’s illegal. Secondly, he’s setting a bad example. And thirdly, anyone who takes on a leadership role in Cologne must set a positive example — even in moments like these,” Lange stated.
Reminder: Throughout his 18-year career, Podolski played for clubs such as Cologne, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, among others. He scored 49 goals in 130 matches for the German national team.
