Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger retires amid links with right-wing extremist

Hinteregger made 138 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger has officially retired from professional football amid links with a right-wing extremist. The Bundesliga club announced the news on Twitter, with the 29-year-old having made 138 appearances for Frankfurt, chipping in with 14 goals during his time at Deutsche Bank Park. A post read: "Martin Hinteregger has decided to end his career as an active professional footballer. This decision deserves the utmost respect. Thank you for everything Hinti! We wish you all the best for the future. You are and will remain an eagle". https://twitter.com/Eintracht/status/1539937866607992836

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger retires.

It comes just two weeks after it was discovered that the footballer was organising a football event with Heinrich Sickl, a neo-Nazi. According to research by Austrian journalist Michael Bonvalot, Sickl is one of three equal stakeholders, along with Hinteregger, at Hinti Event GmbH - the organisers of the event that was due to be held at an estate owned by Sickl's mother.

Hinteregger responds to allegations

In response to the allegations, Hinteregger took to Instagram to clarify his position. "It is unbelievable that an unknown person can say such things about me. Like the Sickl family, I am rooted in Sirnitz, I wanted to show my appreciation and say thank you to the fans, patrons and supporters from my childhood with the 'Hinti Cup'." "I have no knowledge of past or future activities on the part of the Sickl family, I just want a soccer tournament to take place and nothing more. Any business relationship with the Sickl family will be terminated with immediate effect due to the current state of knowledge, and the event 'Hinti Cup' will be examined alternatively to clarify a further course of action." "I have friends all over the world through my time in professional soccer and also privately, and clearly reject accusations that I am right-wing oriented, and continue to stand up against any kind of discrimination!" Austrian musician DJ Ötzi and Frankfurt rapper Vega are set to perform at the 'Hinti Cup' next week. Vega is a member of the Eintracht fan group Ultras Frankfurt 97. There is currently no suggestion that Martin Hinteregger's retirement from football is directly linked with his alleged involvement with Heinrich Sickl.