German football coach convicted of assaulting minor players

A former youth football coach in Lower Saxony has been found guilty of numerous counts of physical assault against minor players. The Landgericht Aurich ruled that between 2022 and 2024, the individual used his position of power to strike and slap players when dissatisfied with their performance.

The court addressed 93 criminal charges in total. While the defendant was convicted of multiple counts of bodily harm, he was acquitted of the charge of sexual harassment. Due to the nature of the crimes and the involvement of minors, the proceedings were held behind closed doors. The court issued a directive under the Juvenile Court Act rather than a prison sentence, imposing specific rules and restrictions on his future conduct, though the exact details remain confidential to protect the victims.