Schalke's Antwi-Adjei Faces Racism in German Cup Match

Leipzig, August 18 (AP) - Schalke midfielder Christopher Antwi-Adjei faced jeers from Lokomotiv Leipzig supporters after voicing his concerns over racial abuse during their German Cup encounter.

Antwi-Adjei, who is Black, recounted the incident on Sunday to Sky TV, describing the abuse as “quite simply, it was racism.” He emphasized, “I think it has no place on a football field or generally in society. I don't want to repeat the words that were used, but it's disappointing. I'm not the type to go home and cry, but still it's disappointing that it happens on the field these days.”

On the same day, in Potsdam near Berlin, an unidentified Kaiserslautern substitute experienced racial abuse while warming up at halftime during his squad's cup fixture against RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf. Swift action was taken as fans and security quickly identified and detained the purported offender.

During the game in Leipzig, Antwi-Adjei interrupted play in the 13th minute after being subjected to racial slurs while taking a throw-in. He communicated the issue to a sideline official and then referee Max Burda.

Referee Burda noted, “He told us he was racially abused. We didn't hear it, but of course, we take it very seriously and act to protect the player. For incidences of racism, there's a three-point plan, and we put the first point into action. That's a stadium announcement.” Following a brief three-minute pause, the stadium announcer urged fans to refrain from using racist or discriminatory language, allowing the match to proceed with Antwi-Adjei resuming the throw-in.

Despite the intervention, Antwi-Adjei was continuously whistled at whenever he handled the ball. “There are always a few people here in the stadium who think they can get away with anything. They think they know better,” stated the 31-year-old Antwi-Adjei. “But yeah, we keep going, we've progressed, and I hope such things don't happen so often in the future.” Schalke clinched a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Bryan Lasme goal in extra time.

Reflecting on the incident, Schalke captain Kenan Karaman remarked, “It overshadows the whole game. I signaled straight away to the referee that we wouldn't continue if it didn't stop, and luckily the referee reacted. Then the announcement came in the stadium that this kind of thing isn't tolerated and that it has no place in sport. I'm glad that Christopher handled it well and still played a good game.” Karaman confirmed that the team was prepared to abandon the match if necessary. “Of course. We would have stood behind Christopher and we would have stopped playing,” he added.

During the post-match press conference, Lokomotiv coach Jochen Seitz admitted, “The football festival is tainted by a single shout. That shouldn't happen. Of course, it's difficult for a club to take action when there are still 12,000 people there. And when a single idiot shouts something like that, it basically ruins the whole thing.”

Schalke's coach, Miron Muslic, interjected, challenging the notion that it was merely “a single idiot.” He asserted, “I have to speak up because we always downplay individuals. The whole stadium knew why the game was interrupted, and the whole stadium whistled. It wasn't just an individual.”

Schalke competes in the second division, while Lokomotiv plays at the fourth-tier level after barely missing promotion last season. (AP) UNG

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