At the start of 2026, the “loan blunder” triggered head-shaking across the football world. Werder sporting chief Clemens Fritz and Peter Niemeyer claimed in November and December 2025 that, because of FIFA and DFL regulations, no further loans were possible in the winter window. Only after a tip-off from transfermarkt.de did it emerge that this information was simply wrong.
Fritz admitted that the correction came only after an outside hint — an embarrassment played down as a “communication misunderstanding,” but one that raised real questions about the competence of the sporting leadership. By April 2026, Fritz was still under pressure after 13 defeats in 27 matches.