“Social hours” with children in the Nordstadtliga, a lecture, but no sporting consequences: The repentant national player Karim Adeyemi gets off lightly, at least in football, after his trouble with the judiciary and the fine of 450,000 euros for illegal possession of weapons.
He also spoke out about the incident for the first time on Wednesday. “It’s not easy for me to talk about it,” Adeyemi wrote on Instagram. “At the beginning of 2024, out of carelessness and without really thinking about what I was doing, I ordered a so-called mystery box on the Internet. It also contained items that are not permitted under weapons law.”
The package was delivered “many months later” and by chance ended up unopened at the police station. “Nevertheless, it was a huge mistake. One that I am very sorry for, cost me a lot and that I deeply regret.”wrote Adeyemi. “I know that I am in the public eye and have a role model function. I haven’t lived up to that.” He promised to avoid such mistakes in the future.
Training sessions with children
BVB announced that managing director Lars Ricken and sports director Sebastian Kehl had spoken “in detail and clearly about his behavior” in a three-person meeting. According to information from sid, the striker will complete training sessions with children in Dortmund’s Nordstadtliga football social project. Ricken had discussed this with DFB sports director Rudi Völler.
Völler: Adeyemi’s behavior “stupid”
Völler and national coach Julian Nagelsmann took Adeyemi aside during the international break. “We wanted to hear his version. He then tried to explain it to us somewhat,” reported Völler, who called Adeyemi’s behavior “stupid”: “You have to punish every now and then. But of course it’s important to give such players a hug.”
Nevertheless, he wants Adeyemi “Don’t condemn it. Young players make mistakes.” Ricken also emphasized that it should be taken into account “that he had to pay an expensive penalty, that no one was harmed and that the player is still considered to have no criminal record”.