Former Vitesse coach faces community service for sending sexual messages to 16-year-old

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has recommended 100 hours of community service against Marc H., 41, a former youth trainer of the Arnhem professional football club Vitesse. He confessed in September of last year to sending sexually explicit WhatsApp messages to a 16-year-old girl.

The victim trained at H.’s football school in Eindhoven and received private lessons from him. Vitesse dismissed him in July. He had been coaching Vitesse’s top youth team.

H. did not attend Thursday’s court hearing and was not obliged to do so. His lawyer stated that H. “continues to feel constant fear and uncertainty” because of the legal proceedings and media scrutiny. H. sent a letter to the court. “He has lost both his job and his passion,” the lawyer said. “Football was his life, but he now accepts that it is no longer an option for him.”

H. contacted the victim on Saturday evening on WhatsApp about a training session. But the conversation soon took an inappropriate turn, the prosecutor told the court. H. asked the girl what she thought of his age and if she wanted to kiss him.

The victim attempted to signal her unease by mentioning she was wearing an “ugly, thick pajama,” but H. ignored it and continued discussing sexual acts, including asking to video call. They eventually agreed to erase the conversation, but she recorded a video of it while scrolling and provided it to the police.

The victim chose not to press charges. “She reported feeling very uncomfortable and no longer wanted to continue training,” the prosecutor said. Despite the absence of a formal complaint, the prosecution decided to pursue the case against H.

The court will deliver its verdict on October 16.