For the Austrian Martin Hinteregger, the season turned out to be simply gorgeous. His Eintracht Frankfurt sensationally won the Europa League, and the defender himself was a key player in the team. However, on the eve of Hinteregger, he unexpectedly announced his retirement – and this is only 29 years old, when everything is just beginning for a player in his position.

The hero of European cups left football amid a scandal. It turned out that Hinteregger has extremely toxic connections in politics.

His business partner was a well-known neo-Nazi!

The Zickley family

This summer, Hinteregger decided to organize a youth tournament in his homeland and named it the “Hinti Cup” – apparently in honor of himself. However, Martin did not dare to do such an event alone and called for help from fellow countryman Heinrich Zikl. The men live in the same village and have been in business together in the past.

Heinrich Sickl / Photo: © Heinrich Sickl’s personal archive

Hinteregger’s acquaintance with Zickl caused a media outcry. It turned out that in the 90s the latter was the leader of the Austrian neo-Nazi movement and spoke a lot about the “purity of the race.” Subsequently, Zikl admitted that at that time, due to his youth, he did not understand anything. But the society was not convinced by this – the poisonous ultra-right trail still stretches behind the politician.

– I strongly reject the persecution in my address. I take an active part in the democratic life of the state. As for my entrepreneurial activity, I never connected it with politics,” Zikl quotes the Kleine Zeitung edition.

Today, the Zikle family owns Ahlbeck Castle, where the tournament organized by Hinteregger took place. The estate is run by the politician’s mother, Elizabeth. She is considered an even more famous figure than her son, as she served as Austrian Minister of Health in the early 2000s.

Hinti is shocked

When the media attacked Hinteregger for his connections, he was in total shock. Some literally accused him of collaborating with the neo-Nazis and claimed that he supported their ideology. As a result, the football player immediately made an official statement in which he disowned his partners.

“I have always condemned the ultra-right movement, all these inhuman ideas. Everyone who knows me will confirm this. As for the Zikleys, I had no idea about their past – I just wanted to hold a children’s tournament. All business relations with this family will be terminated due to the circumstances that have been revealed,” the football player wrote on social networks.

Photo: © Schloss Albeck

However, not only business affairs will be completed, but also Hinteregger’s football career. Many associated the decision with the scandal – they say, with such connections it is better not to appear in a decent society. Nevertheless, the player himself claims that he has been thinking about this step for a long time.

“Last fall, I first thought about ending my career. We played pretty bad, myself included. Victories no longer brought joy, and defeats were doubly annoying. After winning the Europa League, I realized that I had to leave on the wave of success, the Daily Mail quotes the player.

The scandal with Hinteregger did not affect the attitude towards him from the side of the club management. Upon learning that the football player was going to hang his boots on a nail, the sports director of Eintracht, Markus Krosche, was upset, but found the strength to say kind words to the defender.

— Martin’s decision was unexpected, but he made convincing arguments. He will always be welcome in Frankfurt. This is a great professional, and I am sure that he was sincere in his apology and condemnation of the far-right ideology, the Daily Mail quotes the functionary.

Now Hinteregger is going to return to his homeland and play at an amateur level. Going into the shadows will help to extinguish the activity of gossips and accusers. Although the scandal will certainly smolder for a long time.