German football club coach suspected of using false COVID certificate

The coach of German football club Werder Bremen is under criminal investigation for allegedly using a false coronavirus vaccination certificate.

Bremen prosecution office spokesman Frank Passade confirmed on Friday to dpa that they have launched a probe against Markus Anfang after the northern German city's health office filed a criminal complaint.

The second division club said in a statement late Thursday they have been informed of the investigation.

Bremen said that Anfang has "strongly refuted these accusations during a personal discussion with the executive board before assuring them that he is fully vaccinated and has not used a counterfeit vaccination certificate."

Anfang said in the statement: “I got double vaccinated in an official vaccination centre and received the stickers to put it my yellow vaccination passport just like every double-jabbed citizen has.

"I then got these records digitalised at the pharmacy and assumed that everything was sorted. I very much hope that this situation gets cleared up quickly.”

Anfang took over as Werder coach in summer after the club's relegation from the Bundesliga. He was previously at second-tier Darmstadt.

The case is overshadowing team preparations for Sunday's match against Schalke who were also relegated last season.