Moukoko at U21 European Championship: “If we lose, these monkey comments come”

Football German U21

“If we lose, these monkey comments come”

Status: 23.06.2023 | Reading time: 2 minutes

“Shocked and Disappointed” – Racial abuse directed at Moukoko and Ngankam

After the German U21 national team’s 1-1 draw against Israel at the start of the European Championship, there were racist insults against Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam on Instagram. Coach Antonio Di Salvo reacted “shocked” to the hate on the net.

Defending champion Germany misses two penalties in the opening game of the U21 European Championship against Israel and misses out on victory. Reason enough for some people to let their hatred run free. The shooters report racist insults. “It hurts,” says Youssoufa Moukoko.

The German U21 internationals Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam were massively racially insulted on social media after they missed penalties at the start of the European Championship. “If we win, we’re all Germans. If we lose, these monkey comments come. Jessic got it, I got it. Things like that just don’t belong in football,” said 18-year-old Moukoko after the German team’s 1-1 (1-1) draw against Israel at the start of the European Football Championship.

Both the Dortmunder (3rd minute) and Ngankam (80th) from Hertha BSC missed a penalty in the game on Thursday evening in Georgia. For defending champion Germany, who had played the entire second half in the majority after a red card against the Israeli Eden Karzev (45 + 1), it was only enough for a draw to start the tournament.

also read

“We don’t shoot extra, we try to help the team. When you get messages like that, it’s disgusting,” said Moukoko, who was born in Cameroon. “It hurt this time. No player misses a penalty.” Moukoko reported that he was repeatedly confronted with such comments. “Slowly enough. It’s about time that a sign was set against it,” he demanded.

“We condemn it in the strongest possible terms”

National coach Antonio Di Salvo also condemned the attacks. You can’t control everything on the Internet, but there must “definitely be a penalty. That’s absurd.” The coach defended his players. “These are guys who love to play for Germany, who are Germans and give their all for the country,” said Di Salvo. That’s why he was personally shocked and disappointed. “Any kind of racism and discrimination is the bottom drawer, it doesn’t work at all,” he clarified.

also read

Aging healthy through fasting

The clubs of the two professionals and the German Football Association also reacted. “Disgusting and despicable. No place for racism and discrimination. We are behind you, Jessic and Youssoufa!” wrote Ngankam’s club Hertha BSC on Twitter. Moukoko’s club Borussia Dortmund wrote: “The Borussen family is behind you, Youssoufa!” The DFB said: “We condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”