Figures released by the Office for the Registration of Discrimination Cases in Football in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, on Tuesday, September 12, revealed that racism is still an issue in German football.
The Office for the Registration of Cases of Discrimination in Football in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has monitored 211 cases of racial discrimination in the state, including 95 cases in professional football, since July 2022, according to the Deutsche Welle website.
This number is higher than the numbers announced by the German Football Association, which recorded three cases of discrimination or racism last season at the level of professional competitions.
The German Federation had announced 35 cases of discrimination in the 2016/2017 season, and Federation spokesman Michael Murch said, “Each case is one too many.”
The North Rhine-Westphalia state office differs from the German Football Association in that it records cases of racism on social media networks, in addition to right-wing slogans carried on posters, clothing or banners, in addition to general behavior in stadiums.
“We do not only record verbal and physical behavior,” said Elena Mueller, spokeswoman for the office. “Most cases relate to inappropriate behavior by fans. Currently, more cases of Hitler salutes have been observed and reported.”
It should be noted that racist abuse was directed on social media to players in the German League (Bundesliga), including Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern Munich players, Benjamin Henrichs, Leipzig player, Youssoufa Moukoko, Borussia Dortmund player, and Jessic Ngankam, Eintracht Frankfurt player.
“We’re in 2023, and it’s really sad that we still have to talk about discrimination and all the other things we don’t need in our world,” 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Sami Khedira said earlier this year. The former Germany, Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder testified he had many issues during his 15-year professional career.
