Consequence of the scandal surrounding ex-coach Fuhr: BVB handball boss Heiermann resigns

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Andreas Heiermann

Photo: Thomas Bielefeld / IMAGO

Andreas Heiermann is no longer chairman of Borussia Dortmund's handball department.

As the club announced on Thursday, Heiermann, who originally wanted to do volunteer work until 2024, announced his early resignation.

Heiermann thus drew the consequences of the affair surrounding the former coach of the women's Bundesliga team André Fuhr, who had been confronted in SPIEGEL with allegations of abuse of power and psychological violence by numerous players.

"Of course, the most recent events surrounding the 1st BVB women's handball team have also kept me busy," explained Heiermann, who took over as chairman in 2008.

Allegations had also been made against the department head himself in the context of the Fuhr case.

A former BVB player reported that Heiermann, following a reference to Fuhr's sexually abusive behavior, merely replied that "infidelities are normal today."

Probably breached confidentiality

National player Mia Zschocke, who played a key role in making Fuhr's attacks public, also criticized Heiermann.

He is said to have pierced the contents of a confidential conversation with Fuhr.

Even when players criticized coach Fuhr's methods at a team meeting in 2020, Heiermann is said to have remained inactive.

BVB President Reinhard Rauball emphasized Heiermann's sporting merits in the Dortmund press release.

The head of department played a key role in shaping the "extraordinary development", in 2021 the BVB women's handball team won the German championship.

At the same time, Heiermann assured in talks that he "is no longer able to muster the strength" to tackle the challenges in women's handball that also emerged from the Fuhr scandal.

Heiermann's resignation is therefore "consistent".

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