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The demands are getting louder: Should former national soccer player Christoph Metzelder after allegations of child pornography and a written confession (BILD reported) return your Federal Cross of Merit?
It is empty: Metzelder has not returned his medal, which he received on December 4, 2017 “for his commitment to supporting social projects”, including “the Christoph Metzelder Foundation to support children and young people in the fields of education, training and integration “of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (64) received. The Office of the Federal President announced this to BILD.
Comedian Oliver Pocher (42) had called for such a withdrawal in an Insta story.
No decision has been made on whether to withdraw Metzelder’s honor. Then he says from the office:
“The Office of the Federal President is closely monitoring the evolution of the current criminal proceedings against Christoph Metzelder.” Please “understand” that “in view of the principle of confidentiality that is consistently applied in religious orders, no information can be given about the initiation of such processes.”
According to this, there is still no request from Oliver Pocher to withdraw the order.
When can a medal be withdrawn?
The Office of the Federal President also explained the legal situation in such cases to the BILD. According to this, “article 4 of the law on titles, medals and decorations” opens up such a possibility “if the holder of the order proves himself unworthy of the award due to his behavior, in particular for the commission of a dishonorable crime”.
The Office of the Federal Presidency “always checks when it becomes aware of such behavior” if these conditions for disqualification “exist.” This applies in particular, “if the allegations also concern the merits for which the medalist was awarded.”
