Union Berlin youth coach Jens Härtel steps down after German FA charge
The German FA's disciplinary committee has sought a ban of several weeks over discriminatory remarks made in training. Härtel admitted he made mistakes.
Symbolic image · Photo: Arne Müseler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (cropped and resized)
Jens Härtel is no longer coach of Union Berlin's under-19 team. The club said Sunday evening that the 57-year-old was stepping down from the job he took over only in early July. The German Football Association's (DFB) control committee has requested a ban of several weeks over discriminatory remarks made in training; no decision has been made yet.
The case was triggered by an anonymous letter to the club, which investigated internally with outside help. Union said that "in the assessment of those involved," players were at no time at risk. "I made mistakes and did not live up to my role as a role model in youth football," Härtel said. Youth managing director Lutz Munack said: "Jens Härtel behaved wrongly and has been sanctioned by us for it."
Härtel said he will not work as a coach for the time being. Union said anti-discrimination training will become a mandatory part of further training for its coaches. The club did not name a successor. Härtel previously coached Magdeburg, Hansa Rostock and Eintracht Braunschweig, among others.