According to Staudenmann-Zoff at ISAF: “That was desired and agreed”

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These are the most controversial scenes at the central Swiss wrestling festival in Dagmersellen. In fourth gear, guest Fabian Staudenmann (23) battles Werner Suppiger (34) on the ground, positions himself to lift Lucerne back up and lays him on his back for the top rank. But it won’t come to that. Suppiger turns to the right and lies on his back, as it were.

The same is repeated in Staudenmann’s fifth course against Damian Stöckli (26) from Rottal. He also suddenly lies surprisingly quickly on his back. Staudenmann only gets the grade 9.75 twice. It seems like a clear case. The two probably turned their backs on purpose, SRF expert Matthias Sempach (37) also suspects: “It was not entirely fair.” The king’s testimony weighs heavily. As a native of Bern living in Lucerne’s Entlebuch, he doesn’t want to mess with either association.

Opinions differ completely

Bern’s technical director, Roland Gehrig (50), agrees. “Anyone who understands something about swinging sees that it is desired and agreed upon.” That’s ugly. “Anyone who invites guests to their party must treat them with decency and respect!” Moreover, King Wicki with his class does not need – and probably does not want – this “help” from his fellow members. “But in the end, each wrestler has to decide for himself.”

Stefan Muff (45), technical director of the Swiss Swing Association, takes a 180-degree opposite view of the contested gears. “In my view, Suppiger certainly did not just surrender. And with Stöckli you have to wonder why Staudenmann, who swings incredibly well this season, can’t win such an underdog outright. Once on the ground, Stöckli didn’t stand a chance.” Muff doesn’t want to know that the two wrestlers followed the instructions. “No official of the union can guarantee a wrestler if and how he should lose.”

Conspiracy is part of that

So what’s up with the conspiracy in wrestling? “At federal festivals, it certainly happens that someone shifts gears to help a teammate,” says Gehrig of the Bern Association. His colleague Muff from Central Switzerland also agrees with him on this point. And adds: “There is certainly no internal strategy or even a ranking, such as in cycling”.

After all: the two courses that had to be discussed in Central Switzerland on Sunday had no influence whatsoever on the festival victory. Even with two more top scores, Staudenmann would not have made it to the final round.

Source : Blick