Karim Adeyemi’s Legal Controversy Surfaces Before World Cup Qualifier

Shortly before the German national team’s pivotal World Cup qualifying match against Slovakia, a controversy emerged involving forward Karim Adeyemi. The Borussia Dortmund player was recently reported by Sport Bild to have been convicted of illegal weapons possession in the German state of Westphalia approximately two weeks ago. Additionally, Adeyemi has been linked with a potential transfer to Manchester United.

The issue arose when it was discovered that Adeyemi had ordered a set of brass knuckles and a taser online. Upon the discovery of these items in his possession, he faced legal repercussions for owning weapons prohibited under German law. A district court in Ruhr issued a ruling in early November, imposing a fine of €450,000 on the 23-year-old, to be paid over a two-month period.

The German Football Association (DFB) became aware of Adeyemi’s conviction only after Sport Bild published the story late last week. At a Sunday press conference, national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann addressed inquiries regarding Adeyemi’s situation, confirming that he had discussed the issue with the player.

However, Nagelsmann chose to maintain discretion about the matter, mindful of the significance of the upcoming match. Adeyemi, who had been suspended during the qualifier against Luxembourg, was available for selection against Slovakia but ultimately remained on the bench despite Nagelsmann utilizing all five substitutions.

“I had a productive conversation with Karim,” Nagelsmann stated on Sunday. “However, this is a situation that should not overshadow our preparations for the game. It is a topic that is too significant for both us and German football at this moment. Therefore, I will refrain from further comments, regardless of the questions posed.”

Following the match, former national team head coach and current DFB leader Rudi Völler provided additional insight while speaking with German public broadcaster ZDF. Nagelsmann had assured on Sunday that there would be “further discussions after the game.” Völler confirmed that the DFB was closely monitoring the situation and that Adeyemi might face disciplinary action.

“The day after the game in Luxembourg, Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken contacted me to discuss the incident,” Völler remarked. “Julian and I subsequently spoke with Karim to hear his perspective. He attempted to provide some explanation, although he likely hoped the matter would not surface. We were taken by surprise.

“While we can critique his actions, we do not wish to condemn him outright,” Völler added. “We have all made mistakes at that age, though perhaps not of this magnitude. It is naive and foolish to order such items online. I do not wish to downplay this behavior. We will approach this matter thoughtfully. There is no benefit in becoming embroiled in outrage. Discussions regarding potential sanctions will occur in due course.”

GGFN | Peter Weis