Saturday, February 15, 2025

Former Arsenal Player Under Police Investigation for Igniting Flare at Stadium

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Former Arsenal star Lukas Podolski is facing a police investigation in Germany after lighting a flare during a recent testimonial match held at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. The 39-year-old footballer, who has had a storied career and was commemorating his legacy, sparked criticism for his actions, which officials have labeled as a violation of stadium regulations that ban pyrotechnics. Cologne’s stadium operations manager condemned Podolski as a “bad role model,” emphasizing that such behavior is not acceptable for someone in his position. Despite the controversy, Podolski expressed his deep emotional connection to FC Cologne and hinted at retirement, although he has since continued playing for Polish side Gornik Zabrze. The match was marred by off-field incidents, including violence outside the stadium, resulting in multiple police injuries.

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