A former coach at a sports club in the greater Munich area has confessed to hundreds of cases of sexual abuse involving around 30 boys aged between 13 and 19. The 47-year-old man, who served as a head coach and sporting director, faces over 800 counts of sexual abuse, including more than 200 counts of rape. The allegations came to light in early 2022 after one of the victims confided in their parents. The accused has been in custody since his arrest in October 2022.
The trial began with the judge stating that a confession from the accused could lead to a lighter sentence of between seven and eight years, sparing the victims from testifying. However, this does not guarantee that the perpetrator will be released after serving the sentence, as he may face preventive detention or placement in a psychiatric clinic.
This case is not an isolated incident in German sport. A study published in 2022 shed light on the problem of sexualized violence, with over 70 victims sharing their traumatic experiences. Former European diving champion Jan Hempel also came forward, accusing his former coach of repeated sexual abuse over 14 years. The coach in question passed away in 2001. Additionally, several former coaches have faced trial in Germany for sexual abuse, including a gymnastics coach who received a three-year and two-month prison sentence for 20 cases of abuse.
To address the issue of sexualized violence in German sport, some measures have been taken. The club involved in the current trial now requires coaches to provide an Enhanced Certificate of Conduct, issued by the Federal Office of Justice, to screen individuals working with children and young people. The club had also implemented a protection and emergency concept in 2021, outlining how to handle suspected cases of abuse. However, as the club’s managing director acknowledged, absolute certainty is challenging to achieve.
In late 2022, the Safe Sport association was established to provide support for victims of sexualized, psychological, and physical violence in sports.
The trial in Munich involves a high number of victims and draws parallels with international cases such as Larry Nassar, the former US gymnastics team doctor, Barry Bennell, a former youth coach at Manchester City, and allegations against the former president of the Haitian Football Association, Yves Jean-Bart.
It is crucial for German sport to continue addressing and combatting sexualized violence. The well-being and safety of athletes, especially young ones, should always be a top priority.
