Cologne: Club signs convicted speeder despite death toll
A football club from the Mittelrheinliga has signed a 22-year-old who was convicted by a Cologne court for fatal street racing. A mother and daughter died in the crash.
Cologne: Club signs convicted speeder despite death toll
Despite a custodial sentence for manslaughter, SV Eintracht Hohkeppel has signed a 22-year-old player. The Cologne Regional Court found it proven that the young man participated in an illegal speed competition on the Autobahn 555 in December 2023. A 49-year-old woman and her 23-year-old daughter died in the crash.
The two victims were driving home in a VW Polo after attending a concert. According to the court, the convicted man raced into the vehicle with an Audi A5 at more than 200 km/h. The impact was so severe that the small car burst into flames. The mother and daughter could not be saved.
The presiding judge emphasised during the verdict that this was no unfortunate accident. The women had become victims of a criminal act, not a tragic accident. The defendant had consciously accepted the risk that people could be injured or killed. However, the 22-year-old continues to dispute that he participated in a race. The verdict is not yet final.
The football club justified the signing on its website. The club said it had thoroughly examined the case and held several conversations with the player. The decision had been made after careful consideration. At the same time, the club acknowledged that relatives of those in the crash continue to suffer from its consequences.
The club's sporting director told Bild that the player deserved a second chance. The club had known him for a long time. Should he have to go to prison, the team was staffed such that they could replace him.
Source: BILD