Former Manchester City goalkeeper Eike Immel has reportedly been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for fraud offences.
German outlet Bild claim that the 64-year-old, capped 19 times by Die Mannschaft and part of their triumphant Euro 1980 squad, sold tickets to a European Championship match, which he failed to deliver.
In total, 107 cases were brought against the former stopper, with the vast majority. reportedly relating to borrowing money that he did not repay.
The outlet claim that the total value of the money was £29,775.
Immel, who made 43 appearances for City between 1995 and 1997, was found guilty in all cases and was sentenced by the district court in Marburg on Thursday.
His defence cited his financial problems as a reason for his failure to repay the monies owed, the report claims.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Eike Immel has reportedly been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for fraud offences
The 64-year-old (right) was capped 19 times by Germany and was part of their triumphant Euro 1980 squad
‘Mr. Immel is deeply ashamed of what is being discussed here in the courtroom today,’ read the statement given by the former goalkeeper’s defence, Bild report.
‘He lives hand to mouth. This fact has been publicly known for years.
‘[He is] not a professional fraudster, but a failed former footballer.’
Immel declared bankruptcy in 2008 and last year claimed that he is living on benefits in a council flat with just left in his bank account.
‘I lived like god,’ Immel told Sat.1 via Merkur of his lifestyle during his playing days. ‘I’ve done things where every normal person would say that it can’t be true.’
One of the many notable expenses was a £9k phone bill and spending £25k on clothes for a girlfriend at Christmas.
Following a long and successful career, Immel was hit was a tax bill worth £800k that he was unable to pay, adding: ‘It’s not my strength to handle money.’
‘It’s a struggle to make it through the month,’ he continued, admitting that he is often left with just £2 once all his expenses have been paid.
With his time in England brief, Immel is best remembered for his tenure in the Bundesliga, where he racked up 550 league matches for Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart, with whom he won the top flight in 1992.
In addition to his 1980 European Championship success with Germany, he was also part of the squads that finished as runners-up at the 1982 and 1986 World Cup.
