April 30 – Former Germany and Dortmund star Christoph Metzelder (pictured) has been sentenced to a suspended 10-month prison term after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
The former World Cup star shared 18 files of child and juvenile pornography on Whatsapp. Metzelder pleaded guilty in court. “I will accept the sentence and I apologise to the victims of sexual violence,” said Metzelder. “I will bear all my life with the guilt of having caused this evil to society.”
The German enjoyed an impressive career, playing for Dortmund, Real Madrid and Schalke 04. He also featured as a starter in the German national team that came second and third at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
In his defence Metzelder highlighted his professional career as well as his commitment to social causes, but those arguments were followed by a partial confession. The former defender didn’t comment on the charges against him. He said he would return the Federal Cross of Merit, the highest institutional recognition for an individual in Germany.
In 2019, media reports emerged about a high-profile former player involved in sharing images of child pornography and German tabloid Bild cited Metzelder as one of the suspects.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714043414labto1714043414ofdlr1714043414owedi1714043414sni@o1714043414fni1714043414