German Football Fans Single Out 'Racist'

by Jordan Yerman | February 4, 2007 at 11:50 am

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Racial tension has long been a spectre haunting European football, brought to non-European attention mainly by mega-moments such as the Zidane head-butt during the last Wold Cup final. For every one of those moments, how many are there that go unreported or unanswered? Evidently, these German footie fans have their own answer: "too many".

A football spectator who fellow fans alleged shouted racist insults at a black player during a German first division match faces a life ban.

Fans of home team Energie Cottbus told police a man was insulting their Cameroon striker Francis Kioyo in Saturday's match against Bochum.

Energie Cottbus said it would take legal steps against the spectator and praised the fans who reported him.

Cottbus is in an economically depressed area near the Polish border.

Correspondents say racist chanting and violence at matches there are commonplace.

The German football authorities have fined several clubs for failing to control fans and have warned of possible point deductions.

Hansa Rostock were fined $25,000 (£12,700) last year after fans racially abused Schalke's Ghana-born striker Gerald Asamoah.

Last year under-21 German international player Aaron Hunt was banned for two games for "gross unsporting conduct" after two England players said they were racially abused. Uefa later overturned the decision.