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Jerome Boateng wants to become a coach and work at FC Bayern. The football world champion’s future planning and the debate about it shows that violence in football – and not just against women – is still underestimated. A comment.
Friday morning, 10 a.m. Press conference at Bayern before the top game against Dortmund. The colleagues present have questions about the game – only one question is not asked: Will Jerome Boateng actually do a coaching internship at FC Bayern?
A lot could be learned from the answer to this question, but unfortunately it was not asked. This also says a lot about the football system, from which it has recently been repeatedly reported that physical, psychological and sexual violence is the order of the day there. Almost 500 people and 11 friends shared their experiences of violence in this system during research by Correctiv. From yelling and humiliation to beatings to sexual assault and serious rape. sportschau.de also repeatedly reports on attacks on coaches in football.
Boateng posed with Till Lindemann
The system has a violence problem – Jérôme Boateng’s violence problem apparently remains a private matter. In recent years it has been publicly stated several times that the former Bayern professional has gotten into violent conflicts with ex-partners on more than one occasion. Psychological violence is also said to have played a role in the relationships.
Now one could argue that Jerome Boateng has no criminal record. That although he was sentenced to a fine for domestic violence, the punishment was below the limit at which a criminal record is recorded. And of course no one should be prejudged and not have the chance to rehabilitate themselves. But Jerome Boateng didn’t take advantage of this opportunity. Instead, he still has April posed for a photo with Rammstein singer Till Lindemann and shared this on Instagram.
Boateng got his B license from the Bavarian Football Association
This is the image that Jerome Boateng paints of himself in public. And that seems to be considered little problematic. Jerome Boateng was recently able to get a coaching license with the Bavarian Football Association (BFV) without any problems. The trainer B license, which he acquired there in a special course, is intended to train trainers for ambitious youth and adult football. And then the question arises: Is someone with this background suitable to train young people? Because it’s not just about football. Trainers should also be people that children and young people can follow.
In addition, the coaching license also applies to competitive sports for girls and women. How would they actually feel with a coach Jerome Boateng? Would they feel in good hands? Would they perhaps have reservations about the trainer because of his previous history – or even fear of provoking him with their behavior? Afraid of being yelled at and humiliated? And would that be acceptable for the Bavarian Football Association and football in general?
reporting to Boateng comes primarily from women
At this point, the Boateng case clearly shows the problems that exist in the football system – and which repeatedly lead to violence being carried out in this system. Incidentally, this is also particularly true in the youth performance sector, as past research shows. It shows how much men support and protect each other in this environment.
But the case also shows that the first reports about Jerome Boateng’s possible return to FC Bayern Munich – this time in the form of a coaching trainee – were primarily and first and foremost classified and commented on by female journalists. Like Eva-Lotte Bohle in the 11-Freunde podcast or the head of the sports department at Tagesspiegel, Inga Hofmann. There was also initially no corresponding reporting on sportschau.de because it was not certain whether Boateng would actually be attending FC Bayern or whether he had invited himself there.
Violence against women is not a private matter
This is also part of the problem and shows how deep these structures are and how much an outside perspective is needed to address the problems in these structures. It also fits that the DFB, for example, initially refused to agree to a safer sport code. A decision that should be reconsidered following recent revelations.
We need – not just in football – a greater awareness of violent structures and violent behavior. And we need – especially in football – a greater awareness of the dramatic consequences of sexism. Violence against women and violence against partners is not a private matter. It is an expression of an overall problematic understanding of violence. Violence that doesn’t just remain in the domestic sphere. But which is completely underestimated in public. And which still far too often has no consequences whatsoever.