Former FC Köln coaches Lukas Kwasniok and Hannes Dold are taking the club to labour court over unpaid salaries. The first hearing dates are set for mid-February 2027.
Kwasniok, 45, was dismissed six months ago, while Dold, 33, lost his job in February this year. Both had contracts running until 2028. They are invoking a clause that guarantees full salary only if dismissal occurs before the end of the 2025/26 season. For any period after that, the contract stipulates payment of just 50 percent of the agreed salary. FC Köln is standing by this interpretation.
Court Dates Set
Kwasniok's lawsuit is scheduled for 16 February 2027 at the labour court. In Dold's case, a prior mediation attempt via video conference failed, and a potential DFB arbitration hearing could come first. If that also fails, a chamber hearing for Dold is set for 25 February 2027, nine days after Kwasniok's date. The club's lawyer, Arne Gerke, commented briefly on the matter. "The club adheres to its contracts," he said. "We will not comment further in this forum and are accordingly not prepared to reach a settlement."
Background of the Dismissals
Dold's dismissal stemmed from Kwasniok's dissatisfaction with his work on set pieces. After being relieved of his duties, Dold was initially reassigned by sporting director Thomas Kessler, 40, to oversee loaned players. Dold refused this new role and was subsequently terminated.
While the legal proceedings run their course, the current first team is focused on matters on the pitch. Their recent form over the last five competitive matches reads three wins, one draw, and one defeat. The most recent outing was a 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen at the RheinEnergieSTADION on 12 September. The next challenge is an away fixture at Hamburger SV on 19 September.
This story first appeared at Bild Sport
