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Racism scandal before the Olympics: insult against Torunarigha?

EIt was only a few weeks ago that the television documentary “Black Eagles” drew an unadorned look at racism in German professional football. Above all, it was about what national players with dark skin had to experience. In addition to prominent kickers such as Jimmy Hartwig and Gerald Asamoah, a young player whose experiences were particularly fresh and therefore disturbing also had a say.

Jordan Torunarigha, U21 national player and in the Bundesliga for Hertha BSC on the ball, talked about his experiences in February 2020 during a DFB Cup game at Schalke 04. He was greeted with monkey noises from the stands. “I thought I wasn’t hearing right,” he said. “I couldn’t think normally anymore. Angry, sad, all at once, that was all too much. ”The game ended with a yellow-red card for him. Schalke was fined 50,000 euros by the DFB.

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On Saturday another football game ended prematurely for Torunarigha. And again it was about racism. The 23-year-old is currently preparing for the Olympic Games with the German selection. In a test match they played against Honduras in the Japanese town of Wakayama. Three times 30 minutes should be played in camera, both coaches wanted to change and try out a lot before the tournament started this Thursday. But the test match ended with a scandal. Shortly before the end, the German team left the pitch with a score of 1: 1. The reason: Torunarigha stated that he was repeatedly racially insulted by the opponent.

“He was really very relaxed,” reported his trainer Stefan Kuntz afterwards. The team then decided to set an example. “I think that’s a statement that we always have to make when something like this happens,” commented Max Kruse on the campaign via Instagram. “Regardless of whether it is in the first or the 90th minute, we always have to do that because racism simply has no place in football.” Maximilian Arnold, the captain of the Olympic selection, spoke of a “correct statement. We made the right decisions and acted, ”he said.

Jordan Torunarigha was racially insulted.  (Archive photo from 2018)


Jordan Torunarigha was racially insulted. (Archive photo from 2018)
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Bild: Picture-Alliance

Trainer Stefan Kuntz also praised his team. It was “very, very good behavior”, he said, calling the insults against Torunarigha “sad and pathetic”. The team then discussed whether the matter should be investigated further. Ultimately, the decision was made against it, especially since the entire Honduras squad apologized on the pitch. “It was also Jordan’s will that said we wanted to let it go,” Arnold explained. But that was not the end of the matter. The allegations are too serious, the subject is too serious.

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