Bremen coach resigns over vaccination certificate probe

Markus Anfang resigned as Werder Bremen coach with immediate effect on Saturday in connection with a criminal investigation against him for allegedly using a fake coronavirus vaccination certificate.

The second division club said in a statement that assistant Florian Junge was also stepping down as a second suspect in the probe.

“Due to the extremely stressful situation for the club, the team, my family and myself, I have decided that I will end my job as Werder Bremen's head coach with immediate effect," Anfang said in the statement.

"I have therefore asked the responsible persons to terminate my contract immediately, and they have granted this request."

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

Bremen managing director Frank Baumann said later Friday that "Markus has assured us that everything has been correct and that he is vaccinated. And therefore there is no reason from our side to doubt this."

Saturday's statement gave no further details, saying only "the prosecution's investigation and the resulting unrest at and around the club" as the reason for the resignations.

Baumann said: "With their step, Markus and Florian are taking responsibility and are helping to end the unrest that has arisen around the club and the team in the past few days. We respect your decision and will now start looking for a new head coach."

Bremen said that another assistant, Danjiel Zenkovic, would be in charge of the team for Saturday night's league match against Schalke.

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