Criticism of Bavaria because of Boateng: friend’s statements “fatal signal”

FC Bayern

Jérôme Boateng is not returning to FC Bayern. The debate about how the record champions deal with the player’s alleged crimes continues.

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Although FC Bayern Jerome Boateng has not been brought back into his squad, the record champions’ handling of the player’s alleged crimes continues to be criticized. “Partnership violence is never a private matter – regardless of whether it comes from prominent professional footballers or from a work colleague, a neighbor or a best friend,” a spokeswoman for the women’s rights organization Terre des Femmes told the Munich “Abendzeitung”. “The statement by the Bayern sports director (‘private story’) was a fatal signal – to all fans, to the public, to those affected and, last but not least, to perpetrators.”

The 35-year-old Boateng is facing a new criminal trial in Bavaria because he is accused of attacking his then partner and mother of his children while on vacation in the summer of 2018. A verdict against Boateng was recently overturned. The footballer complained about an unfair trial and a prior conviction.

Criticism of Christoph Freund’s statement

Bayern’s sports director spoke about the matter Christopher Freund a few days ago described this as Boateng’s “private story”. The player is evaluated primarily according to sporting criteria.

“The attempt by the sports director to trivialize the allegations against Boateng as ‘private’ points to a structural problem,” said the statement from Terre des Femmes. “Violence against women is still not taken seriously; in addition to physical violence, those affected have to endure intimidation, perpetrator-victim reversal and victim-blaming even after the separation.”

Society must take a clear position against domestic violence, this also includes sports clubs. “The club with the most registered fans in Germany should take responsibility for this,” demanded Terre des Femmes. With around 300,000 members, FC Bayern is the sports club with the largest number of members in the world.

The aid organization “Weißer Ring” also criticized the friend’s statement at the beginning of the week and wrote on Portal X (formerly Twitter): “Domestic violence is not a private matter, but a massive social problem. In 2022 alone, 240,547 cases were reported to the police , and that’s just the bright field.”

FC Bayern won’t bring Boateng back

Bayern announced on Friday afternoon that they would not bring Boateng back. Boateng, who has already trained with the team for a few days, can continue to stay fit at FC Bayern if he wishes. He was said to be in good physical condition.

Boateng played for Munich from 2011 to 2021, during which time he won the treble twice with the club. (dpa/mbo)
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