Eintracht saved at the last
Thursday, July 4, 2002
Article summary
Eintracht Frankfurt have won their appeal against the German Football Association's decision to withdraw the club's professional licence.
Article body
Eintracht Frankfurt have won their appeal against the German Football Association's (DFB) decision to withdraw the club's professional licence.
Previous ruling
Eintracht were told on 19 June that their licence would be taken away after their mandatory bank guarantees did "not fulfil the conditions requested and put at risk the financing of their match activities". That decision would have forced them into the Regionalliga, the third division of the German league.
Unlucky Unterhaching
But a tribunal yesterday overturned the previous ruling and Eintracht will continue in the second division. SpVgg Unterhaching, who finished third bottom of the second division, will now be relegated after almost being saved by the DFB's action against Eintracht.
Long history
The Frankfurt club finished seventh in the second division last season. But the club, founded in 1899, is steeped in history, making their name at international level when they met Real Madrid CF in the European Champion Clubs' Cup final on 18 May 1960 in Glasgow. After a memorable semi-final against Rangers FC, who they beat 12-4 on aggregate, Madrid's legendary side brought Frankfurt's run to an end after a historic 7-3 victory.
Sad decline
Eintracht were triumphant in the UEFA Cup 22 years ago and have also won the domestic cup four times and the league title once. The beginning of Eintracht's sad decline started in 1996 when they were relegated from the 1. Bundesliga for the first time. After two seasons in the second division, Eintracht were promoted but fell through the trap door for the second time in 2001. They finished last season in seventh place in the second division
Not the first time
Eintracht have been rocked by a series of financial scandals in recent years. The club were docked two points in the 1999/2000 season for financial irregularities, but managed to stay up by winning on the last day of the season. In April this year, the DFL demanded that Eintracht show that it had €11.5M in liquidity or else lose its licence to play in the second division.
