Toni Polster hired a lawyer: “This has been bothering me for decades”

Toni Polster can be found at the top of the all-time best lists of the Austrian national football team. His 44 goals are unmatched to this day, his 95 international matches have only been surpassed by Marko Arnautovic, David Alaba, Andreas Herzog and Aleksandar Dragovic. Nevertheless, the ex-goalgetter would like to subsequently improve his ÖFB statistics.

In this context, he has three matches in his sights that are considered unofficial international matches and will therefore not be counted towards him. Specifically, it is about the games Liechtenstein – Austria (0:6 on June 7, 1984 in Vaduz, one cushion goal), Tunisia – Austria (1:3 on February 7, 1987 in Tunis, two cushion goals) and Morocco – Austria (3-1 on February 2, 1988, no cushion goal). These games do not appear in the ÖFB international match statistics – the match in Vaduz is not officially recognized by the Liechtenstein association, probably also because there were wild substitutions. Alfred Drabits, for example, was swapped out and swapped in again in this match.

“Anything else would be a huge injustice”

Nevertheless, Polster lacks any understanding of why the games in question are not counted. “Of course I want to have these three games and three goals, anything else would be a huge injustice”said the Viennese to the APA.

The fact that this didn’t happen bothers Polster, according to his own statements “for decades”. That’s why the 59-year-old called in lawyer Manfred Ainedter in this case. The lawyer has already contacted the ÖFB. “Unfortunately, the discussions so far have not produced any results. We are now considering how to proceed”, Ainedter told the APA. The lawyer assumes that the domestic association could consider the three games as official – regardless of FIFA and UEFA. “We are of the opinion that it is exclusively up to the ÖFB to recognize the games and goals or not.”

“Unfortunately, this is a FIFA issue”

ÖFB General Secretary Thomas Hollerer contradicted this. “Unfortunately, this is a FIFA issue because it involves official games under the aegis of the world association. That’s why we can’t decide on our own. We can only apply to FIFA if the criteria are met, but that is not the case”said the lawyer from the APA.

At that time there was no international match calendar and no obligation to park. National associations agreed on dates and general conditions among themselves. “It was consciously decided at the time that certain international matches would not be official. For example, it was about the possibility of being able to substitute players out and back in again”said Hollerer.

“Would love to help Toni”

The Viennese discussed Polster’s wishes with key world association officials at the FIFA Congress in Rwanda last March and received an unmistakable message. “It was decided at the time that the international matches would be unofficial. We cannot subsequently provide any confirmation that they will be officially counted”said Hollerer and at the same time emphasized: “We would like to help Toni. We have no reason not to want his games and goals to be credited to him, but unfortunately our hands are tied.”

If, contrary to expectations, Polster was credited with the three goals, he would have expanded his credit to Arnautovic. The Inter Milan legionnaire scored 36 goals before today’s European Championship qualifying match in Tallinn against Estonia. “But that has absolutely nothing to do with Marko or that I fear for my goal record. This is simply an injustice that stinks to high heaven and I would like to have it corrected”, Polster emphasized. If he is still surpassed by Arnautovic, “I’ll be the first to congratulate him”promised the Viennese.

info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.

info
Click on the icon to open yours “my themes” Page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.

info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.

Add the topic to your topics.