International fullback from Germany Nico Schulz, 29, is accused of kicking his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach just two weeks before her due date.
Prosecutors confirmed to German outlet Bild that an investigation has been opened and Schulz’s house has been searched after the player’s now ex-partner filed a complaint for multiple cases of alleged domestic abuse that occurred in 2020.
In a string of WhatsApp messages seen by Bild, the woman tells the Borussia Dortmund full-back: ‘You hit me when I was naked in my own apartment’.
The prosecution also claims that Schulz ‘kicked his girlfriend in the stomach with his shoed foot’ in an attempt to end the pregnancy. All of the allegations are denied by the 29-year-old.
On Sunday, Borussia Dortmund issued a statement confirming that they had spoken with Schulz about the allegations.
‘Borussia Dortmund took Saturday’s media reports regarding criminal allegations – concerning Nico Schulz’s private life – as an opportunity to immediately seek dialogue with the player and his advisors,’ the club said.
‘The player denies the criminal charges against him. Nico Schulz has informed us that he will defend himself against these allegations with the help of a lawyer and that he will also claim the presumption of innocence.
‘The allegations made, of which Borussia Dortmund was not aware until the media reports, weigh extremely heavily and are shocking for BVB. Borussia Dortmund takes it very seriously and distances itself from any form of violence.
‘However, Borussia Dortmund is not a party to the proceedings and has no access to the investigation files or the criminal complaint that has apparently been filed.
‘Since this is a pending procedure in the early stages of the investigation and the factual and legal situation for Borussia Dortmund is extremely unclear as of today, we are currently unable to make any reliable and legally certain decisions regarding labour law and disciplinary measures.
‘However, we reserve the right to do so at any time for a point in time when we objectively know more. Borussia Dortmund will not be making any further comments at this time.’
Schulz has spent the last three years with Dortmund, but he has been a bench player, starting only nine league games last season. He also played four times in the Champions League.
The left-back was not selected by new Dortmund manager Edin Terzic during pre-season, and he was not included in the squad to face Bayer Leverkusen in the first game of the new Bundesliga season on Saturday.
Hertha Berlin, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Hoffenheim are the 29-year-previous old’s clubs.
