"Serious process": Serious allegations of abuse of football

The Frankfurt public prosecutor's office is investigating a former youth coach from SV Wehen Wiesbaden on suspicion of rape, sexual abuse and the production of depictions of abuse.

From July 2019 until a few weeks ago, the 34-year-old was initially responsible for the U 12s and later for the U 14s at the professional soccer club.

During a search at the end of October, videos of the rape of several boys were found on the cell phone of the accused.

Apparently he had previously stunned the motionless victims.

According to the public prosecutor's office, there is a suspicion that the young people “were put into a state of unconsciousness by means of alcohol or other intoxicating substances”.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the trainer has been in custody since December 9th.

The cell phone recordings are said to show crimes committed immediately before the find.

It is still unclear whether the acts took place in the vicinity of the club and whether youth players from SV Wehen Wiesbaden are among the victims.

Trainer "dismissed without notice"

When the Wehen Wiesbadener were informed of the evidence, the coach was "released immediately and then dismissed without notice," said the club. It is a "serious and burdensome process for our club", it says in the announcement of the SV Wehen Wiesbaden, which does not want to comment on this case. The Hessischer Rundfunk reported on the investigation on Monday.

In addition, the accused allegedly assaulted at least two other young people between 2007 and 2014. According to the public prosecutor, they were unable to defend themselves against the perpetrator, who was their football coach. One of the victims at the time had revealed himself and thereby initiated the current investigation. It is still being determined whether more children and young people were victims of the alleged rapist. The accused, who probably comes from Frankfurt and lives in the Main-Taunus-Kreis, has worked for various associations in the Rhine-Main area since 2003. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that there were even more victims.

According to a football database, the accused was employed at SV Hattersheim for a total of nine years, two years with Germania Weilbach and three years with FC Eddersheim.

The holder of the youth elite license of the German Football Association was also employed as a regional selection trainer for the Hessian Football Association for a year.

In the summer of 2019 he then took over as a part-time employee - nothing is known about the main job of the accused - the head coach of the then U 12 of SV Wehen Wiesbaden.

In the Taunussteiner Nachwuchsleistungszentrum (NLZ) on the Wehener Halberg, the accused's team was always looked after by assistant coaches, supervisors and physiotherapists.

In addition, a lot of training time has been lost in the past three years due to the corona pandemic.

According to information from the FAZ, contrary to media reports to the contrary, the incriminating material should not have been found on the premises of the association.

The sporting youth work of SV Wehen Wiesbaden is not only certified, but is also very recognized in the football industry.

The damage to the reputation of the youth work of the club, whose first team plays in the third professional league, is likely to be immense.

The parent representatives have been informed by the NLZ that the association has separated from the accused due to the investigation, according to the SVWW.