Football DFB takes a stand
“You disgust us. You’re not fans, we don’t need you.”
As of: 4:36 p.m. | Reading time: 3 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.
After the racist attacks on the U21 players Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam, the German Football Association has announced legal action. In addition, the association directed sharp words at the perpetrators. The players have their say too.
After a turbulent and short night, Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam slowly got back to normal while training with their teammates. The day after the massive racist slurs against the two U21 internationals, Ngankam smiled again to applause from spectators at public training in Batumi on Friday. During training with the other starting players in the team hotel, Moukoko already focused on the next sporting tasks. Moukoko wrote on Instagram next to a Germany flag and three heart emojis: “Let’s go”.
The German Football Association announced legal action after the racist insults against its players. The association decided “that we will take criminal action against these people,” said Joti Chatzialexiou, sporting director of national teams in the association, on Friday in Batumi. You will try to “do everything possible to hold these perpetrators and people accountable.” You simply have to stand up to these people.
In a statement, the DFB also addressed clear words to the people who wrote insulting comments: “We would like to say to those who wrote discriminatory, insulting and inhuman comments against some players after the U21 game yesterday: You disgust us. You’re not fans, we don’t need you, we don’t want you. We will prosecute your statements. Be sure: you will never win. Because we are more. We are open, diverse, colorful and damn proud of it,” the association tweeted on Friday. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said: “Our national players show the best side of our modern and diverse Germany, these racist comments show the ugliest side”.
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The two strikers each missed a penalty in the German team’s 1-1 draw at the start of the European Championship against Israel in Kutaisi, Georgia, and thus missed the best chance of a win. Moukoko then reported racist comments against himself and Ngankam on social media.
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On Friday, Moukoko and Ngankam thanked them for the widespread support. “World class! Bad that in 2023 there are still “people” hiding behind anonymous accounts to rabble racistly. You can’t do anything to me,” Ngankam wrote on Instagram on Friday. “On the contrary. We as a team are even closer together. Now focus on the Czech Republic!” Moukoko posted a post by Jérôme Boateng. The fight against racism is a constant struggle and nothing has been achieved so far, wrote the 34-year-old. “But we will never give up the fight. I am with you, my brothers.”
Coach Di Salvo expects a reaction
Trainer Antonio Di Salvo described discrimination, hate speech and racism on the Internet as “cowardly” and “disgusting”. “That’s the very bottom drawer,” said Di Salvo. Such people are “themselves a fringe group and cowards because they would never dare to say it in person.”
Before the second group game against the Czech Republic, Di Salvo also spoke of the reaction of the DFB selection. “The team has now sent a clear signal: We’re only concentrating on the sporting side, we won’t let ourselves be divided, we are one,” said the national coach. You want to show that on the pitch now. He will therefore no longer speak about the attacks against his players.
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The second European Championship game against the Czech Republic is scheduled for Sunday (6:00 p.m. CEST/Sat.1) in Batumi. After the 1:1 at the start, the defending champion urgently needs a win. Otherwise the team is in danger of losing sight of goals such as reaching the knockout phase and qualifying for the Olympic Games before Wednesday’s group final against England.
