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In men’s football, to quote a high-ranking football official, it seems to be “absolutely okay” to use violence against women. There is no other way to explain the behavior of those responsible at FC Bayern Munich in the Boateng case. This shows once again that violence against women is a structural problem. The underlying structure of the problem: men protecting men.
A month ago, FC Bayern supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge defended his “buddy” Luis Rubiales with the above words after he grabbed the head of world champion Jennifer Hermoso with both hands in front of the world’s eyes to press his lips on her.
It is not surprising that Rummenigge jumped to the Spanish association president’s side. The two have known each other for years. Not least through their cooperation in UEFA, where Rubiales was vice president until mid-September.
Serious allegations against Boateng
The case, which has caused outrage around the world and is currently turning Spanish football completely on its head, has apparently passed German officials and those responsible without a trace. There is no other way to explain why FC Bayern is considering bringing Jerome Boateng back into the team.
As a reminder: Boateng was found guilty of bodily harm in two cases. In the most recent proceedings, the Munich regional court was “completely convinced” that Boateng boxed, hit, spat on and insulted Sherin S., the mother of his two children, during a vacation in 2018, as the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” writes. The verdict was overturned in September – due to procedural errors. The case will be retried soon.
Defense of Bayernresponsible persons is already prepared
Of course those responsible are aware of what they are planning to do. Because their defense is already prepared. In all interviews, the much sought-after presumption of innocence is invoked in order to legitimize an upcoming contract with a “deserving player”. Coach Thomas Tuchel even manages to explicitly emphasize the player’s personality in a positive way in the same sentence.
A personality who is accused by two ex-girlfriends of using physical violence against them. A personality who has no problem having one of these ex-partners sign confidentiality agreements and thus destroying all evidence that could ultimately prove: Yes, there was violence involved. This partner can no longer say anything. Katarzyna Lenhardt, known as Kasia, presumably took her own life on February 9, 2021.
But as long as a player performs well on the pitch, women’s rights apparently don’t count. And what has become public from previous proceedings doesn’t count either. In principle, the women’s statements disrupt the ability of clubs and athletes to earn money.
Violence against women remains a “private matter”
The fact that this is the case has, not least, a large-scale impact Research by “SZ” and “Correctiv” Shown. In 2022, she revealed what seems to be a method in professional football. Namely, silencing players’ wives with contracts and the threat of high contractual penalties.
Nobody is surprised at the presumption of innocence that is constantly being made. Given such contracts, who should be able to refute them? And so in the end the partners and ex-partners remain silent. Violence against women remains a “private matter”. And in the end everyone can rely on the presumption of innocence.
What’s more important is on the pitch
None of this is an issue in professional football itself. You concentrate on what’s happening on the pitch. And instead publishes bright press releases. Like on August 28, 2023, for example. In a joint project with fans and the Munich fan project, an awareness project called “Care” will be announced to the public.
Board member Andreas Jung is quoted as follows: “With our awareness concept, we want to support all members, fans and employees of FC Bayern to look and listen, to stand up, to help and to stand up for each other. Respect and tolerance are important values of sport that we promote and for which we are committed Use FC Bayern anytime and anywhere.”
Kimmich: Not a big issue in the dressing room
Except maybe when it comes to women. Then no one looks. The figures published under the trivializing term “partnership violence” speak their own language. Every day a man in Germany tries to murder his (ex) partner. Almost every third day this means the death of a woman at the hands of her (ex) partner. These acts are usually preceded by other acts of violence.
And yes, they can include famous football players, lawyers, journalists, doctors, workers. Violence against women is a problem affecting society as a whole. And it’s a men’s problem. Men who protect and support each other. Who – even when sexualized assaults take place in front of the world – always claim that it’s no big deal or that it’s not meant that way.
Or a private matter. A matter “between the two.” Men who can’t imagine that their “best buddy” at home beats his wife or children. They cannot imagine that someone who is so committed to the club could be sexually assaultive. It is fitting that Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich reacted irritably when he was asked about the Boateng case. It’s not a big issue in the dressing room, says Kimmich.
It takes a lot of courage to go public
Women tell these stories again and again and again. But nothing will change as long as men reassure each other that it’s not all that bad. Or that it’s just a private matter. As if violence against women is okay as long as it doesn’t jeopardize job performance. And the presumption of innocence also helps them. Actively listening when women report violence from their husbands. Or the myth of the lying woman who only wants to enrich herself in the end.
In all the cases that have recently been dealt with in public, women have mostly lost out. They were publicly pilloried, attacked, insulted, insulted and threatened. Against this background, anyone who still claims that women who make sexual violence against them public only want attention or money must actively ignore how much courage it takes to go public with it. And how often these women lose out despite everything because the law in Germany does not adequately protect women from violence. The lawyer Asha Hedayati recently described the structural reasons for this in her book “The Silent Violence”.
Violence against women is not a private triviality
The behavior of FC Bayern, coach Thomas Tuchel and other people in charge is currently declaring violence against women a private triviality. That’s not her. Violence against women needs to be addressed. This also means that clubs and associations finally take the issue seriously. And do their part to publicly outlaw violence against women. In the end, that also means waiting until a final verdict is made.