September 29 – The Volkswagen emissions scandal will not affect the status of Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga club owned by the embattled car manufacturer, according to sporting director Klaus Allofs.
The club have made the Champions League group stage this season and Volkswagen’s investment helped them win the Bundesliga title in 2009 and German Cup last season.
With a significant fine reportedly likely, the company may have to make cuts but Allofs said: “I can’t say anything concrete about the operations at Volkswagen, but in general the signals are clear. As things stand now, nothing will change.”
“The financial size of the investment, in terms of the whole Volkswagen Group, is certainly not small. On the other hand, their emotional involvement is huge, which is why I am not worried. That’s not a calming tactic, but what I firmly believe.”
Despite Allofs’ attempts at re-assuring fans, former Wolfsburg striker Jonathan Akpoborie took a less optimistic stance.
“When you are there you know that if Volkswagen has a problem then it would be an immense problem for the team,” Akpoborie, who played for the Wolves between 1999 and 2001, was quoted as saying by the BBC
“Volkswagen is the backbone of Wolfsburg, it would be a disaster if they separated. The link is always there. For the players it’s not hidden. You know that without Volkswagen the team can’t survive, it would crumble.”
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