Barcelona’s Statement on Jerome Boateng Amid Controversy

Jerome Boateng officially retired from professional football in September after a stint with Austrian club LASK.

FC Barcelona has reiterated its dedication to addressing gender-based violence in light of backlash following a visit from Jerome Boateng, the former Bayern Munich and Germany defender.

Recently, the club shared a video on X entitled ‘Welcome to the Ciutat Esportiva, Jerome Boateng,’ depicting him in conversation and embracing former teammate Robert Lewandowski during training.

Boateng was previously fined 200,000 euros (£176,000) and issued a warning by a Munich court after being convicted of premeditated bodily harm against his former partner.

The 37-year-old athlete has denied inflicting injuries on the mother of his twin daughters during an argument while on holiday in 2018 and had appealed an initial guilty verdict issued in 2021. Last year’s trial in Munich marked the third occasion Boateng faced legal proceedings related to this case.

The video was released just two days ahead of Barcelona’s first match back at the newly renovated Nou Camp stadium in over two years. Prior to the game, the club announced a minute’s silence would be observed “in memory of all those women killed by male violence” to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The release of the video alongside the club’s announcement garnered criticism on social media, with some fans labeling it an “embarrassment” and highlighting the irony of the circumstances.

In response, Barcelona issued a statement clarifying, “Jerome Boateng has no contractual relationship or active role within the club. His visit was solely a one-off, educational engagement aimed at supporting his personal journey to obtain a coaching licence. It was not an institutional invitation for any sporting or representational duties.”

The club emphasized its strong commitment to combating gender-based violence and expressed regret for any perceived inconsistency in their actions. “Our tributes and moments of remembrance for women killed by male violence form a critical and non-negotiable value for us, and nothing that occurred was intended to undermine that message,” they stated.

Last month, Boateng, who was part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning team, had to cancel a coaching internship at Bayern Munich due to protests and backlash from fans.

Since retiring from playing in September, he plans to pursue a coaching career, with intentions to obtain his UEFA B coaching licence by November 2024. Notably, a former girlfriend of Boateng tragically took her own life in 2021, following reports that he had recently ended their relationship.