A German Liga 3 fixture between VfL Osnabruck and MSV Duisburg was abandoned over the weekend after a Ghanaian youngster was racially abused in the course of the game.
Aaron Opoku was faced with racial abuse from a fan at the stadium during the first half of the game and headed down the tunnel after drawing the referee’s attention to the situation.
His teammates upon realising the situation also decided not to continue the game at the MSV Arena in solidarity with the player, abandoning the game.
The referee then led the way as both players matched to the dressing rooms following the racial chants aimed at the 22-year-old Ghanaian, who plies his trade at Osnabruck, on loan from Hamburg SV.
Reports from British outlet, Dailymail, revealed that the fan was later identified by stadium officials in Duisburg before suffering ejection from the venue.
Showing their disapproval at the turn of events, the stadium PA announcer then played the anti-fascist song ‘Schrei nach Liebe’.
VfL press officer Sebastian Ruther told Magenta Sport after Sunday’s game was suspended that Opoku was not pleased with the situation while commending Duisburg’s reaction to the situation.
He said: “I only heard it from above, but it quickly became clear what it was all about.
“It is clear that there were racist remarks and our player Aaron Opoku is mentally quite down. The important thing is that it’s about Aaron. It’s crucial for us that he’s not doing well.
“There was incredible solidarity in the stadium, also from the Duisburg spectators.”
Michael Welling, Osnabruck’s managing director added: “The DFB (German Football Association) has to decide with its authorities what is right. We would like to play a replay or something like that.
“Racism must not be part of our society and also not part of football. Aaron is very, very exhausted and that was also a reason to say that we are no longer players. We just don’t accept that as a club.”
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