The former national player criticizes the federal government’s Corona measures – but denies any closeness to right-wing populists. But the facts speak another language.
He is one of the legendary German world champions from 1990, completed 62 international matches for the DFB-Elf, played 332 times in the Bundesliga, has been a sought-after expert in football broadcasts for years – but currently Thomas Berthold likes to use the attribute “uncomfortable” described. He has always been “uncomfortable”, it is said, whether in articles or TV reports, and it is often said that he saw so many red cards as a player (five, still a club record at VfB Stuttgart) and that he was kicked out of the national team in 1994 after criticizing national coach Berti Vogts.
But Berthold no longer seems to be “uncomfortable” – instead, the self-proclaimed “free thinker” is drifting further and further into the scene of conspiracy theorists in the Corona crisis. Much more than that: Berthold seems to have long since arrived in these circles. What began as a criticism of the federal government’s corona measures is becoming increasingly extreme.
Appearance as a speaker: Berthold at a demonstration of the “lateral thinkers” on November 7th in Leipzig. (Source: opokupix / imago images)
For weeks, the long-time defender of VfB Stuttgart and his wife Britta have been noticed by statements that are clearly part of the “lateral thinker” spectrum. Only a few days ago the next “interview” with the ex-national player was made public, this time with Alex Quint, a Dresden investment advisor (!), Who was involved in a “Pegida” spin-off in Dresden years ago and also likes to talk to him on the topics relevant in right-wing circles: “Who are we actually indebted to?” or “The deep state strikes” sits.
The Bertholds then say that the government has to “go”, that they have not watched any “state television” for “ten years”. Then the assumption is made that SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach is “under drugs” or has “a psychological problem”. Because “ultimately we’re talking about the flu” when it comes to Covid-19.
All of this is just the latest episode.
Interview with a right blogger
Review: August 8, 2020, Berthold takes part in a demonstration of corona deniers in Stuttgart, stands on the stage, gives a speech – in T-Shirt of a “lateral thinker” alliance. Berthold criticizes the federal government, saying that his confidence in “politics” has “fallen below zero” due to the corona measures. On the same day, the former defense attorney asserted in the “Bild”: “I am neither with conspiracy theorists nor with right-wing populists, I just said my opinion about the government’s measures.” One day later, he adds again to the sports information service: “I have no regrets, definitely not.”
However: Berthold, contrary to all assurances, is very much in common with conspiracy theorists and right-wing populists, apparently has no fear of contact, is willing to be harnessed to the cart of the organizers as a draft horse. A short time later, Berthold gave an interview to the right-wing blogger Oliver Janich, who spreads anti-Semitic, xenophobic and conspiracy-theoretical views. “If that’s the case, I’m ready to face the consequences. Well, I have no problem with that,” replied Berthold when asked whether he was afraid of the professional consequences of his statements.
Greatest success: Berthold won the 1990 World Cup with the German national team (here in the final against Argentina). (Source: Pressefoto Baumann / imago images)
The conversation was also published in the “Compact” magazine, which was classified as a suspected case by the constitution protection chief Thomas Haldenwang because of “revisionist, conspiracy-theoretical and xenophobic motives” and which had connections to “clearly right-wing extremist tendencies”.
Berthold shows closeness to “Reichsbürgern”
Even more: Berthold also gives views that bring him close to the so-called “Reichsbürger”. The “Deutschlandfunk” quoted Berthold further: “Japan and Germany are not sovereign states. We are still suffering from the consequences of the war, that is the case. And Germany does not play a role in world political affairs either. We only ever play a role in the EU when it’s about paying. But otherwise we’re just a minor player. “
November 7, 2020: At another demonstration by “lateral thinkers” in Leipzig, Berthold – accompanied by his wife – is filmed speaking into a microphone. When asked about the current situation in football with empty stadiums, he replied: “I don’t understand. Where are the hooligans? Where are the ultras, the hardcore fans?”
It should have been known for over 20 years that Berthold is quite inclined to the spectrum of conspiracy oaths: In an advertisement for a bookseller in 1999, Berthold, who was still a footballer at the time, had the conspiracy-theoretical book “Secret Societies and Their Power in the 20th Century” of the notorious anti-Semite “Jan van Helsing” given as “favorite book”.
Only the German Football Association has apparently still not noticed the attitude of its veteran player. On November 12th, the official Twitter account of the “team” tweeted: “Happy birthday, Thomas Berthold!”.
The only thing missing is that they would have described him as “uncomfortable”.
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