Coach Fuhr and the Handball Federation: Mediation Settlement Reached
Connection Established: Allegations Lead to Consensus - Handball Association and Coach Reach an Agreement - Following allegations, the handball federation and coach Fuhr have reached an agreement
Ready to step back into the game, coach André Fuhr has inked a deal following accusations by players against him. This settlement comes after a grueling mediation process at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm—nearly three long years since these allegations hit the news.
The German Handball Federation (DHB) has mandated Fuhr to undertake further training on communication, motivation, and group dynamics at the earliest convenience. Upon completion and submission of proof, the investigations against Fuhr under the trainer regulations will be formally put to rest, paving the way for him to resume his coaching career unimpeded.
Post the allegations and the resignation of two Borussia Dortmund players, Fuhr was benched by the club back in September 2022. Since then, he's stayed away from the DHB's youth area. Fuhr, now 54, has expressed remorse for any pain caused to the players through his behavior.
DHB: Maximum Suspension Period Surpassed
The decision to discontinue charges against Fuhr can be attributable to the significant time lapse since the allegations surfaced. "The effect of no longer being able to practically exercise the activity as head coach surpasses the longest suspension as per DHB trainer regulations," the federation declared. No criminally relevant behavior has been identified in the consensus between the DHB and Fuhr.
Speaking to Sport Bild, Fuhr reportedly acknowledged that certain events didn't occur as portrayed and that he might not recall them in their stated form or with accuracy. He has shared that he considers the settlement to be "an acceptable result, ending all legal proceedings and allowing me to move forward." Fuhr remains committed to his handball coaching career and believes the experiences he's endured will prove valuable, despite the difficulties.
Federation President Balanced about Agreement
Following the court's ruling, the DHB was compelled to pause the work of an external commission focused on the allegations. The commission can now recommence its investigation and submit a final report to the DHB board. Fuhr had initially resisted the commission.
DHB President Andreas Michelmann voiced his support for the settlement, stating, "We view the reached agreement as a balanced outcome, upon which we will build the future prevention of any kind of violence in handball based on the work of the commission."
- DHB
- Handball Federation
- Dortmund
- Higher Regional Court of Hamm
- Borussia Dortmund
While the Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, it's worth noting that Coach Fuhr, despite the past allegations, expresses a keen interest in returning to sports, specifically handball coaching. The German Handball Federation (DHB), post the mediation settlement and court ruling, can now restart the work of an external commission to investigate the matter fully.
