Borussia Dortmund's handball ladies went to the round of 16 in the Champions League last season and finished in second place in the Bundesliga.
This season has also started well, with two league victories in two games.
Therefore, it came as a surprise to many when the club announced the day before yesterday that they fired coach André Fuhr.
"In recent days, the coach has been heavily criticized by both the players and the public, which made it almost impossible for the squad and club management to focus on handball," the club wrote on its website, and further wrote that an investigation is now underway:
"Borussia Dortmund is now working consciously and carefully with the events described above and is in contact with the institution that works against violence in sports, which has been contacted by several players.
As long as the said investigation is ongoing, Borussia Dortmund will not make any further comments".
Stars to Norway
The announcement came just a week after two German national team players, Mia Zschocke and Amelie Berger, had their contracts terminated.
They have now gone to the Norwegian big team Storhamar.
Borussia Dortmund does not want to say exactly what Fuhr has done or is accused of, but the institution they write in the statement that they work with offers athletes support if they have experienced physical and/or psychological violence and/or sexual harassment/violence.
And the newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten writes that Fuhr is accused of both abuse and violence.
Sent threatening text messages
And according to information to SVT Sport, that is exactly what it is all about.
Fuhr allegedly harassed players both mentally and physically.
In a statement to the newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten, Fuhr's lawyer Markus Buchberger speaks out.
- There is behavior presented by the players that fits under the heading of racism, but it has not been criticized by the player to whom it applied, but by a third party, he says.
SVT Sport has sought Fuhr's lawyer.
Former Eslöv and Önnered player Emma Olsson plays in the team.
SVT Sport has been in contact with her, but she does not want to comment on the situation.