Jens Härtel stepped down as the Under-19 head coach of Union Berlin on October 11, following a 12-week ban issued by the German Football Association (DFB) over three separate incidents involving discriminatory remarks, the Berliner Kurier reported. The revelations emerged as details of Härtel’s official statement to the DFB were made public, showing the coach admitting to parts of the allegations while disputing their intent.
The Opalenica Training Camp Incident
The first incident occurred during a summer training camp in Opalenica, Poland, where youth players were instructed to form new seating groups during meals. When 18-year-old Alec Shabany, 17-year-old Michael Etobe, and 18-year-old Sadou Barry—whose roots trace to Cameroon and Guinea—sat together again, Härtel asked if it was another “Africa table.” In his statement to the DFB, Härtel conceded that the phrasing was “clumsy and counterproductive.” He explained that the remark stemmed from frustration that a planned team-building measure had not unfolded as intended, adding that personal degradation was never his goal. He subsequently apologized to the team and the three players.
References to Berliner AK and Homophobic Remark
The second allegation centers on a post-match comment following a 3:2 cup defeat against Berliner AK. Härtel allegedly remarked, “We are losing against this foreign club.” While stating he could not recall the exact wording, he did not rule it out. Härtel defended the context by noting he managed BAK from 2011 to 2013, a club historically shaped by individuals with immigrant backgrounds, and recalled that the team was sometimes casually labeled that way without him perceiving it as discriminatory at the time. The third allegation involved a training ground rebuke where Härtel reportedly told a player who botched an attempt, “Shoot and don’t play like a gay man.” In his defense, Härtel clarified via his coaching staff that the phrase used was actually “Don’t play such a faggot ball” (“Spiel nicht so einen Schwuchtelball”), describing it as inappropriate and misplaced while insisting it targeted the poor play rather than a player’s sexual identity. He apologized for that remark as well.
DFB Sanctions and Managerial Fallout
Despite Härtel’s explanations and apologies, the DFB enforced a 12-week ban, ruling that his conduct violated the association’s legal and procedural regulations as well as its coaching guidelines. The disciplinary action prompted Härtel to officially vacate his position in the Union Berlin youth setup on October 11.
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