Footballer arrested for allegedly poisoning a teammate as an act of revenge during a team trip
A 35-year-old football player has been arrested after being suspected of poisoning his teammate during a team trip at the end of the season.
On Tuesday, September 1, the player, named Marius, was taken into custody for allegedly giving poison to his teammate during a trip with their amateur German club, TuS Rockenberg. The team had traveled to Dresden, Germany, to celebrate finishing the season.
During the trip, one player, Philipp, suddenly felt very sick. After returning home, his condition got worse, and his family called emergency services. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away the next day, June 16, 2025, at just 30 years old, despite the doctors’ efforts to save him.
At first, Philipp’s family thought he had serious food poisoning from fish the team ate during the trip. But later, investigations revealed that his death was caused by poisoning, which led to multi-organ failure.
Marius was named as a suspect in the case. Senior prosecutor Thomas Hauburger told the local media, “We believe this was an act of revenge.”
After the arrest news came out, TuS Rockenberg posted a statement on social media saying: “After losing a teammate so suddenly last year, last Tuesday’s news has left us all speechless again. None of us can understand this heartbreaking situation. We are trusting the authorities to investigate this fully. Because this is very painful for everyone at the club, we won’t comment while the investigation is ongoing and kindly ask that no players, coaches, or board members are asked for comments. Thank you for understanding.”
When Philipp passed away, the club called him “a friend, a true fighter on the field, and a man with a big heart.” His family said they will always remember his loud laughter, quiet kindness, and big heart.
Marius is still being held while the investigation continues. He has not been found guilty of anything yet, and so far, neither he nor his lawyers have made any public comments.