East Frisia: Ex-Youth Coach Accused of Slapping, Harassing Players Faces Trial

Aurich, Germany – A former youth football coach from Ostfriesland is set to stand trial in the autumn, accused of slapping and sexually harassing underage players under his charge. The Aurich public prosecutor's office has brought charges against the man for 93 offenses allegedly committed between 2022 and 2024.

The district court in Aurich has accepted the indictment, which details accusations of the coach repeatedly slapping players when dissatisfied with their performance. The court stated that the victims allegedly suffered "considerable pain" from these blows. In one instance, the coach is accused of throwing a crate of water at a player. Furthermore, he is alleged to have kissed a player against his will on multiple occasions.

In total, the prosecution charges the man with 88 counts of assault, four counts of sexual harassment, and one count of dangerous bodily harm. Because the accused was legally considered a young adult at the time of the alleged offenses, the case will be heard by the juvenile court. A total of twelve witnesses are expected to testify during the proceedings.

The trial is scheduled for October and will be conducted in private, excluding the public. The court aims to address the serious allegations of abuse and harassment within a youth sports environment.