Lawsuit against former sponsor

German third division team joins Austria

In addition to Austria Klagenfurt, other clubs are considering legal action against "28 Black".(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Gepa Pictures)

Bundesliga soccer team Austria Klagenfurt is not alone in its lawsuit against former sponsor "28 Black". A German third division club is also taking legal action. Other clubs are also affected. . .

Will Austria Klagenfurt's former main sponsor "28 Black" soon be in the black? The beverage company is now facing the full brunt of it: not only the Violets - as the "Krone" reported - are preparing a lawsuit against the Luxembourg-based can company. . .

Seven-figure euro amount
Hansa Rostock will now also take legal action. As with Austria Klagenfurt - who would have been entitled to a seven-figure euro sum over the entire term of the contract - "28 Black" terminated the current contract with the Germans prematurely. The reason given: regular fan riots at Hansa.

Termination due to spectator misconduct
However, the third division club will not put up with this approach. "We will defend ourselves with all our might against this unjustified dismissal. It is absurd that someone terminates a contract with Hansa Rostock due to spectator misconduct and then signs with Rapid Vienna a few days later," said Rostock's CEO Jürgen Wehlend.

"Legal advisors are in contact"
And that is now also helping Austria Klagenfurt with its own multi-million lawsuit. "We are following the proceedings and are in contact with Rostock. After all, we share the same fate in this matter and have been damaged in the same way. The clubs' legal advisors are also in contact," explained Austria Klagenfurt's shareholder Zeljko Karajica.

According to "Krone" information, other professional clubs have also been harmed by a premature withdrawal by "28 Black" and are also preparing legal action. This means that the parent company Splendid Drinks AG can expect a flurry of lawsuits.