Shock in youth football: coach in the Aurich district under serious suspicion!

Shock in youth football: coach in the Aurich district under serious suspicion!

In German youth football, the focus is on the alarming allegations against a youth coach from the Aurich district. He is said to have sexually harassed and physically abused players, which came to light primarily through the accounts of a 16-year-old player named Marc*. He collapsed after having to jog eleven kilometers in the blazing sun and reported massive punishments and a feeling of constant control from the trainer. Marc’s mother, Jasmin*, describes the horrific atmosphere the trainer had created, in which fear and isolation prevailed. After a breach of trust, they did not hesitate to report it to the police, which started the spiral. The club reacted immediately and separated from the coach, while the Lower Saxony Football Association (NFV) excluded him from all football activities for the duration of the proceedings and offered legal and psychological support for those affected. The police investigation was completed in May 2025 and the files are now with the Aurich public prosecutor.

But how big is the problem of violence in youth football really? A frightening investigation by CORRECTIV and 11FREUNDE shows that at least 37 criminal investigations have been initiated in Germany for violent crimes against minors since 2020, and this affects at least 130 victims, whose stories are documented in over a thousand acts. The number of unreported cases is estimated to be extremely high. A survey showed that 63 people from Lower Saxony reported their own experiences of violence in youth football, which points to an emphatic and systematic disaster in many club structures. According to these reports, it is often sexual violence that is anchored in the power imbalance between trainers and young people.

The extent of the abuse

The research reveals that numerous perpetrators, often trainers, have repeatedly committed violence in the past without being punished or taken out of circulation. Minor incidents such as bullying or violence in the form of beatings, humiliation and deprivation of food are often not adequately punished. Serious acts have been in the headlines again and again in recent years, as shown by a case before the Essen regional court, where a former trainer is accused of 153 cases of serious sexual abuse. This process is just the tip of the iceberg. DFB Vice President Ronny Zimmermann has already denounced that more needs to be done to prevent future incidents, including through informal inquiries when applying for coaches.

Society's ignorance of these incidents is worrying. In a situation in which the safety of over 2.4 million children and young people in German football clubs is at stake, it must be clear that the voices of those affected must be heard. The increasing reports of sexual violence and other forms of brutality make it clear that a rethink is necessary. NWZonline reports that there is a wall of silence that can only be broken if those affected are encouraged to share their experiences.

In summary, it shows that youth football is not only a place for sporting development, but also a breeding ground for abuse and violence. The current debate, triggered by the incidents in Aurich and the extensive research, must be used to raise awareness, identify grievances and finally bring about sustainable change.