Update: The answers are closed and the response is out. Thank you for all your important replies. This is how the article turned out.
For the German speaking fans there came up some possibilities in the initiative:
Der Pressevertreter des Portal, auf dem die Petition angesiedelt ist, bietet an, für die Initiative kostenlose Pressearbeit zu machen. Konkret ist das Angebot eine Mail im Namen der Fans an einen großen Verteiler zu schicken und ein Social Media Video auf deren Kanal zu veröffentlichen. Hat jemand von euch Lust diese Dinge gemeinsam mit ihm zu machen? Schreibt mir gerne eine Direktnachricht.
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As the initiator of the petition "Setting boundaries against misogynistic violence: Jérôme Boateng must not return to FC Bayern", I received a request from an author of "Der Tagesspiegel", as they are currently writing an article on fan perspectives on the topic. However, I think it is wrong to present myself as the figurehead of the initiative and believe that the initiative can only be successful if the diverse perspectives from the fan scene are visible and the strength comes from the community.
That's why my idea is that anyone who would like to comment on the author's questions can do so here in this thread. You don't have to be a signatory to the petition to do so. Many of you have nevertheless engaged deeply and emotionally with the topic and have a perspective that deserves visibility. I will then share the responses that receive the most engagement with the author.
The deadline for your responses and the voting is tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Please indicate in your response which question you are referring to and use a separate post for each response so that each response can be voted on individually. You can post your answers in German and English.
Here are the questions:
- Why did you start the petition and what do you hope to achieve with it? Is there a target number of signatories?
- What are the reasons why, in your opinion, Boateng should not be allowed to sit in on Kompany's sessions?
- How do you respond to Jan-Christian Dreeßen's claim that Boateng has a ‘right to rehabilitation’?
- Do you feel that Bayern's management is taking your protest seriously, and if so/not, why?
- What demands/expectations do you have of the club?
- Are further measures planned if Boateng does indeed join the club?
Translated with DeepL.com
by bookface3
9 Comments
I would like to respond to the 3. question
While I agree with the sentiment of a “right to rehabilitation”, I would want to see marked improvements in his behavior before being even remotely in agreement with him taking up a role at the club.
Instead, he is mocking people who rightfully accuse him of his wrongdoings on Instagram. Posing with other celebrities who have been accused of similar attacks on women (Till Lindemann in this case), clearly insinuating that he is being targeted by the media, does not show any sign of taking responsibility for one’s own mistakes and therefore rehabilitation.
There’s really nothing to rehabilitate here. Boateng, despite being convicted of assault, kept playing professional football until 2026.he was never shunned or pushed out of the sport.
And let’s be real: being a coach isn’t just about tactics or results. It’s about setting and leading by example and showing what good conduct looks like. Depending on the level, coaches can also have a massive influence on young players. That just doesn’t line up with being a convicted abuser who’s shown zero remorse.
Someone who’s behaved like that doesn’t deserve a shot at “rehabilitation” as a head coach. At best, maybe, as a greenkeeper.
3) The first step to any rehab programme is admitting that you have a problem. Boateng has not admitted to any wrong doing, and had not apologized for his behaviour. It’s fair to say that this means he is not remorseful for his actions. Such a person has no place in the Bayern Munich community, which has always been inclusive and stood up for important issues such as domestic violence against women. To then welcome, with open arms, someone who is guilty of this crime who is unapologetic is a major hypocrisy and a terrible look for the club.
The first step of rehabilitation is the rehabilitatee wanting to be. Has he changed? Apologized? Sought forgiveness? Taken public or private responsibility for his actions?
I worry about the message accepting him unchanged sends to young male fans and youth players, especially in an age already awash in misogynist influencers and manosphere nonsense. Is support for unrepent domestic abusers really the message we want to send with our staffing decisions?
I worry about the message accepting him unchanged sends to young female fans and players. Does the everybody-belongs, mia-san-mia-spirit branding, especially now emphasizing the women’s team side of the club, really work when the staff includes new hires convicted in court of an array of domestic abuses and publicly accused of hounding a woman to death?
More cynically, I also worry that the club is inviting a lot of criticism and social media firestorm and public backlash and fan furor all for a former player with no coaching experience, especially when that player was never a particular leader on or off the field as I understand it, and may not bring much to his position. Despicably, if Lahm or Modric were up for such a post with similar legal troubles, I would more understand the organization going to such lengths. Utterly divorcing from morality and decency momentarily, the backfire potential seems much higher than what having him on staff actually offers.
2. None
3. He is right
4. I hope not, it’s just your typical lynchmob behaviour
5. Ignore the protests, let Boateng do his thing
6. Increasing pride in this club even more
I normally lurk here, but since people have provided some nice English answers to 3. that I agree with, I thought I’d provide a German answer in the same vein:
Der Begriff der Rehabilitation ist hier ja eine reine Nebelkerze. Entweder Boateng meint, er sei den Vorwürfen unschuldig – dann wäre Rehabilitation ein Aufarbeitungsverfahren, das das glasklar zeigt. Wenn er aber schuldig ist, dann haben wir als Gesellschaft doch ein klares Modell, unter welchen Umständen man rehabilitiert werden kann: Man zeigt Reue. Man beweist, dass man diese ernst meint, indem man entweder durch Strafe oder Entschädigung den Schaden mehr als aufwiegt. Man beweist daraufhin durch lang anhaltendes Verhalten, dass man sich tatsächlich geändert hat. Und dann liegt es an der Gesellschaft, ob sie diese Veränderung glaubhaftig findet und die Person rehabilitiert. In beiden Fällen muss zuerst eine gründliche Aufarbeitung Boatengs vorangehen. Trainingseinheiten zu beobachten ist dem Prozess der Rehabilitation so fremd, dass man kaum verstehen kann, wie diese in Verbindung gebracht werden. Das, was hier geschieht, ist die Geschichte zu vergraben und zu hoffen, dass durch den zukünftigen sportlichen Erfolg die Gewalt überstrahlt wird. Das als Rehabilitation darzustellen ist reines Blendwerk.
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(DeepL-assisted English version for non-German-speakers)
The concept of rehabilitation is nothing but a smokescreen here. Either Boateng believes he is innocent of the allegations—in which case rehabilitation would be a process of coming to terms with the past that clearly demonstrates this. But if he is guilty, then as a society we have a clear model for the circumstances under which rehabilitation can take place: one shows remorse, proves that one is sincere either by being punished or by providing restitution greater than the damage caused, then demonstrate through sustained behavior that one has actually changed, and then, finally, it is up to society to accept this change and rehabilitate the person, not up to the person to demand rehabilitation. In both cases, a thorough review of Boateng’s actions must come first. Observing training sessions is so foreign to the process of rehabilitation that it is difficult to understand how the two can be linked. What is happening here is burying the story and hoping that future sporting success will overshadow the violence. To portray this as rehabilitation is deception, pure and simple.
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4) Nein, für Kompany ist das ganze ja “keine große Sache” weil es nur ein paar Trainings sind und vom Management hört man alles, aber keine Kritik an Boateng. Man will die Sache unter den Tisch kehren.
Gleichzeitig lässt man die Allianz Arena orange aufleuchten um auf Gewalt gegenüber Frauen aufmerksam zu machen. Leere Worte also denen man keine Taten folgen lässt.
Lots of good answers already. Here’s another angle on the rehabiliation part:
Rehabilitation does not mean regaining one’s former privileges, especially for public figures. While every person deserves the chance to rebuild their private life after wrongdoing, returning to a position of visibility and influence is not a right but a privilege that depends on moral integrity and public trust. Athletes carry a special responsibility. When someone in such a role commits acts like domestic violence, they forfeit the moral authority that accompanies public recognition. Forgiveness may allow them to live freely again but it shouldn’t automatically give them access back to the spotlight.