The DFB Cup duel between Hallerscher FC and Greuther Fürth was marred by a racism scandal. Firth’s player Julian Green is said to have been racially abused by spectators during the game on Saturday evening. Green said in an interview after his team’s close 1–0 victory: “I am especially happy for my fans. And also for some Halle fans who think they call me ‘monkey’.”
Meanwhile the midfielder pondered whether he should address the insult. In the end he decided against it so as not to upset his team: “I really wanted to win the game here. Winning is a satisfaction.”
At the press conference, Alexander Zörniger, head coach of Greuther Fürth, criticized the fans’ abuse: “My player was called a monkey several times by the spectators. It didn’t happen just once, twice or thrice.” Zorniger adds: “The stadium is 95 percent full. There were many people who could have intervened. Something like this is not appropriate at all, whether it is in Fürth, Nuremberg or Rostock.
But Zorniger added: “I don’t want us to live in a time where one person thinks they’re worth more than the other. And if it’s not for that reason, it’s even worse.”
Head coach Greuther Führer then called for more civic courage: “Stand up and say: This is not possible! We are a great country and we must present ourselves accordingly.” If we don’t do this, the brown rogue, who also sits in the Bundestag, will become more and more dominant. This should not happen. This is our job, not the government’s or the institutions’.” Following this Höllescher FC spokeswoman Lisa Schoeppe apologized on behalf of the entire club for the behavior of some of the spectators at the stadium.
