Manuel Neuer's father-in-law fights to maintain his social standing.
The sting of the season finale no longer inflicts pain: HC Erlangen safeguards its place in the Handball Bundesliga with just a slim edge. This news should also put a smile on the face of Germany's DFB star Manuel Neuer. The defeated Bergischer HC will continue their battle for survival through legal means.
Bergischer HC has been demoted from the Handball Bundesliga for the third time. Their 30:40 (14:16)-home loss against top European League champ SG Flensburg-Handewitt kept them from replacing HC Erlangen (23:27 against TSV Hannover-Burgdorf) in the relegation zone and now must join HBW Balingen-Weilstetten in the lower division after six successful years in the upper echelon.
HC Erlangen, whose supervisory board head Dr. Carsten Bissel is the father-in-law of soccer national goalie Manuel Neuer, manages to stay put after a tumultuous and disappointing season. The Bergischer HC nearly made it to the relegation playoff with a surprising away win (31:30) against runner-up Füchse Berlin on the previous Wednesday.
The relegation decision was the final open topic before the season finale. As champions, SC Magdeburg had already been determined on Thursday. The title holders received the championship trophy from league president Uwe Schwenker and managing director Frank Bohmann in their own stadium on Sunday after a 37:34 (17:16)-victory against HSG Wetzlar in their final season game. Magdeburg's tactical genius Bennet Wiegert was also awarded for his success in the voting for "Trainer of the Season."
Bergischer HC keeps fighting
The issues about international involvement for the following season had already been settled. Besides Magdeburg, runner-up Füchse Berlin will also compete in the Champions League. Flensburg, record champ THW Kiel, MT Melsungen, and VfL Gummersbach will play in the European League. Former record champ Gummersbach returns to the European Cup tournament after a twelve-year absence.
The promotions had likewise been determined. Instead of BHC and Balingen, the second league winners 1. VfL Potsdam and SG BBM Bietigheim will be playing in the top tier next season.
However, although they've been relegated athletically, the BHC is still fighting legally for survival. The Bergisches lodge a grievance against their league rival HSV Hamburg over the licensing dispute that revolves around the North Germans being given a deadline by the Handball Bundesliga (HBL) arbitration court to provide "additional security measures to alleviate the risk of potentially future financial threats."
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HC Erlangen, as a Handball Bundesliga team, will undoubtedly take notice of Bergischer HC's legal fight for survival, given their shared league affiliation with the DHB. Bergischer HC has been relegated from the Handball Bundesliga after a disputed licensing dispute with HSV Hamburg, prompting their aggressive legal challenge.
