1. FC Union Berlin striker Sebastian Polter will not play for the club again this season, club president Dirk Zingler has announced.
Reports in Germany suggest that the 29-year-old was the only member of the Union staff that didn’t waive his wage as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
REPORT: Union Berlin Career Over for Sebastian Polter
Dirk Zingler Statement
In a statement, club president Dirk Zingler released an unrestrained wording of the situation. He said, as reported via the clubs’ official website: It is one of the fundamental values of 1. FC Union Berlin that we, as Unioner, form a solid, tight-knit community in which we stand up for each other and for our club.
“Sebastian, the only player in the first-team squad, coaching and backroom team, does not do this, unfortunately.
“This is not understandable for us and extremely disappointing. It’s my immediate task, during difficult times, to protect the cohesion of the club’s employees and squad, so we do not jeopardise the goals on the park.
“We have therefore decided that Sebastian will no longer be part of our matchday squad with immediate effect.”
Despite no longer being involved in the matchday squad, Polter will continue training with the first team as Die Eisernen prepares for their final six Bundesliga games.
Polter at Union
Polter joined Union from Queens Park Rangers in 2017 and has been an important figure for the club. The striker has scored 32 goals from 75 appearances for the club, including 24 during three years in the 2. Bundesliga as Union secured promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
But this season, Polter has managed just two goals from 13 appearances. He scored during the 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich but also netted the winner from the penalty spot in the first-ever top-flight Berlin Derby as Union saw off Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
The 29-year-old’s contract expires in the summer but is now unavailable for Union’s remaining six games. The club have slowly been dragged into a relegation scrap despite a positive maiden Bundesliga season, losing twice and drawing once since the league resumed.
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