Hoffenheim won't appeal court ruling in Wittmann case

Hoffenheim will not appeal a court ruling to nullify a stadium ban imposed by the Bundesliga club against agent Roger Wittmann and another member of the Rogon agency.

"This has caused a lot of unrest. The fact is that we will not be appealing, but will instead put this matter behind us,’ Hoffenheim managing director for sport Andreas Schicker said on Sport1 TV on Sunday.

In a long-standing dispute between Wittmann and his agency with the club, Hoffenheim had imposed the stadium ban based on alleged insults and threats from Wittmann.

A Heidelberg district court said in its September ruling such a ban requires "sufficient grounds" if the premises – such as a stadium – are accessible to the public.

It said the insults and threats were not sufficient grounds, and that they had occurred months ago and had not been repeated since.

But it also said that the club had the right to ban the two men from their training ground.

Wittmann is close with Hoffenheim sponsor Dietmar Hopp who has a 49% stake in the club. Fans have protested for a long time against Wittmann's influence at the club while Wittmann has taken legal action against those who displayed wanted posters of him at matches.

Schicker said he has a very good relationship with Hopp, although he testified in the trial against Wittmann. Hoffenheim have parted ways with two other managing directors who had distanced themselves from Wittmann.