TNT Sports
Duisburg's Meier sacked
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Published 08/12/2005 at 19:07 GMT
MSV Duisburg sacked coach Norbert Meier on Thursday one day after the league suspended him indefinitely for headbutting Cologne player Albert Streit and then pretending to be the victim of the attack.
Eurosport
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Duisburg, 17th in the 18-team Bundesliga, said they felt compelled to sack Meier because his suspension could last months following the incident which took place in Tuesday's match.
"The pressure on the coach has become enormous because of the incident," said Duisburg chairman Walter Hellmich, who added Meier was in agreement with the club's decision. "That's why we decided to take this step."
He said assistant coach Heiko Scholz would lead the team on Saturday against Arminia Bielefeld.
"We'll find a new coach in the foreseeable future but we're not going to put pressure on ourselves," said Scholz.
The German football association's (DFB) control committee announced on Wednesday that Meier, 47, was banned indefinitely from training the club and taking part in meetings.
Television replays showed Streit and Meier arguing on the sidelines of Tuesday's match before the Duisburg coach suddenly rammed his forehead into Streit.
Meier then fell theatrically to the ground and Streit was given a red card five minutes from the end of the 1-1 draw.
Meier said on Wednesday he had apologised to Streit.
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