Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, the Nigerian-born German international, has been convicted of possessing illegal weapons in Westphalia, Germany, receiving a substantial fine and facing potential disciplinary action from the German Football Association.
The Conviction and Fine
The 23-year-old footballer was fined €450,000 by a district court in Westphalia for acquiring prohibited weapons through online purchases. According to German publication Sport Bild, Adeyemi had ordered a brass knuckle set and a taser, both classified as illegal weapons under Germany's strict firearms legislation.
Authorities discovered the illegal items earlier this month, leading to the conviction that requires the footballer to pay the substantial penalty within a two-month period. The severity of the fine reflects Germany's zero-tolerance approach to weapons violations.
DFB Reaction and Internal Investigation
The German Football Association was caught completely off guard when news of the conviction broke hours before Germany's crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia. DFB sporting director Rudi Völler confirmed that federation officials only learned about the situation through media reports.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann spoke directly with Adeyemi about the matter but declined to share specific details before the important qualification match. Despite being eligible to play against Slovakia, Adeyemi remained unused on the bench throughout the entire game.
Völler revealed that Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken had notified federation officials shortly after the reports became public. Both Völler and Nagelsmann subsequently met with Adeyemi to hear his explanation.
Adeyemi's Response and Future Consequences
During discussions with DFB officials, Adeyemi admitted he had hoped the matter would never become public knowledge. This response did not sit well with federation leadership, with Völler describing the incident as "naive and dumb" while acknowledging that young players sometimes make poor choices.
The DFB is now reviewing the situation and could impose additional internal sanctions on the forward once discussions with Borussia Dortmund and the player conclude. The timing has proven particularly damaging, with the scandal emerging during Germany's critical World Cup qualification campaign.
On the field, Adeyemi has experienced a mixed season with Borussia Dortmund, making 10 appearances while scoring two goals and providing one assist. The off-field incident now threatens to overshadow his football progress as Germany rebuilds ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The conviction represents another challenge for the Nigerian-born star, who previously explained his decision to represent Germany internationally despite being eligible for Nigeria's Super Eagles. Born in Munich to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, Adeyemi chose to pledge his allegiance to Germany at the international level.
