The German soccer world was stunned by the news on Sunday that Germany's longest-serving club chief has died. SC Freiburg president Achim Stocker, who had led the club since 1972, passed away on Sunday after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday, team officials said. He was 74.

"We learned the news shortly before the end of the game. We are shocked and filled with deep sadness," said club spokesman Rudi Raschke.

"Achim Stocker was a highly competent man who over the decades engaged himself with the club in an admirable manner and achieved great things," said the head of the German Football Federation, Theo Zwanziger.

The public announcement of Stocker's death came just after Sunday's Bundesliga match between SC Freiburg and 1899 Hoffenheim. Freiburg lost, 0-1.

That match hadn't been in Freiburg's favor from the start. Hoffenheim striker Maicosuel scored in the 39th minute, set up by Vedad Ibisevic. The ball zoomed out of reach of Freiburg goalie Simon Pouplin.

Freiburg dropped down to 13th place in the league after the defeat, which pushed Hoffenheim to fifth place. Bayern Munich was nudged into the sixth slot.

In other Sunday Bundesliga action, Eintracht Frankfurt beat VfL Bochum 2-1. The win moves Frankfurt into ninth place after Maik Franz scored a goal in the 53rd minute.

svs/AFP/dpa/AP
Editor: Rick Demarest