After the game between MSV Duisburg and VfL Osnabrück, which was canceled due to a racist incident, 1. FC Köln and other clubs have expressed their solidarity. There is also a lot of popularity on social media.
For the first time in the history of professional football in Germany, a game was abandoned due to a racist incident. The decision made by the team of the allegedly offended player Aaron Opuku in the 3rd division, VfL Osnabrück, has received a lot of support. 1. FC Köln thanked both clubs involved: “The effzeh family opposes any form of racism and exclusion. Many thanks to MSV Duisburg and VfL for their clear reaction,” wrote the club on Twitter. Hamburger SV, who loaned the player to Osnabrück, reacted around the corner and wrote on Twitter: “We stand behind you, Aaron”.
There were also reactions from politics: The party chairman of the SPD, Saskia Esken, wrote: “#Thank you that the game @MSVDuisburg / @ VfL_1899 was canceled because of #Racism from the ranks. That is shameful.” The former Secretary General of the CDU, Ruprecht Polenz, found the reaction on the pitch “very good”. Many expressed their solidarity with the decision on Twitter.
The player was visibly shocked
In the third division game on Sunday at MSV Duisburg, Opoku was apparently racially insulted by one or more fans with monkey noises after half an hour when he tried to take a corner kick. The Osnabrück team then left the pitch together with the Duisburg team. Referee Winter later broke off the game after the Osnabrück decided not to play any more. Opoku was visibly shocked. A little later the fans of both teams started shouting “Nazis out”, the stadium control played the anti-fascism song “Scream for Love”.
The police are now investigating and the DFB control committee has taken on the case. DFB interim president Rainer Koch called for the perpetrators to be fully accountable. Racists have no place in German football stadiums. “I am glad that the referee, those responsible for both clubs and the overwhelming majority of the spectators in the stadium have made this clear,” said Koch.
Osnabrück would prefer a replay
Osnabrück’s managing director Michael Welling said: “We also have to be grateful for the many fans of the MSV who reacted the way they reacted. The MSV identified the perpetrator through its fans.” He agreed with the “Duisburg colleagues that we would like it best if there is a replay,” commented Welling. The DFB sports court will decide on the evaluation of the game at a later date, according to a statement from the association.
Source From: Stern
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