It took some time for Markus Anfang to admit to using a fake vaccination card. The coach had previously deceived SV Werder Bremen and thus caused a unique incident in German professional football. His career lies in ruins. That is only deserved. A commentary by Tim Lüddecke.
Markus Anfang wanted to be a coach in the Bundesliga, absolutely. After the Bremen public prosecutor’s office had already presented overwhelming circumstantial evidence against him weeks ago, it should be clear at the latest after his confession became public: He will probably never get there.
As abruptly as his tenure at SV Werder Bremen ended on 20 November – at the time merely due to accusations of vaccination fraud – it should (and should!) also have been the end of his coaching career in German professional football, which was an inglorious one. At least that will not change any more.
First Werder deliberately deceived
As he himself has since confirmed to the public prosecutor’s office via his defence lawyer, Anfang deliberately deceived SV Werder Bremen. All the employees he had to deal with on a daily basis. He lied to those in charge when, despite previously implied misgivings, he pretended to them that he had been vaccinated. He betrayed their trust when he continued to maintain his innocence after the allegations came to light. He besmirched the reputation of an entire association that has since been publicly linked to the issue of vaccination card falsification nationwide.
For such devious behaviour, Werder Anfang conceded a rather merciful exit, on the one hand by allowing him to resign and on the other by waiving any claims for damages. Both, however, were probably more out of self-protection against weeks of side noises – than out of gratitude.
The fact that Anfang actually believed that the obvious inconsistencies in his vaccination record would not be noticed in an industry that is subject to special attention by the health authorities due to daily tests and inspections can hardly be surpassed in terms of arrogance. Why the 47-year-old endangered his promising career as a football coach with such an irresponsible and risky act is something only he knows.
Football is also just a decal of society
He could have voiced his concerns, like fellow coach Lukas Kwasniok of Werder’s league rivals SC Paderborn 07, who has also not been vaccinated. Then he would also have behaved in a way that lacked solidarity with society, but not as irresponsibly (when he also celebrated carnival illegally in Cologne) – and thus: criminally. Thus, after all the previous discussions about the unvaccinated, the case of Anfang meant a completely different dimension for German professional football, because it was relevant under criminal law.
In times of once again rising incidences, Anfang’s now confirmed misconduct shows once again that not all protagonists of this industry live up to their role as role models. And that football, too, is only a reflection of society.
