Just had the missus watch it to translate (as my German isn’t good enough for how quickly he was talking) and it is pretty jarring, disgusting:
“He’s saying that several men behind him throughout the match were using very racist slurs against Sane and Gundogan, and others. Though he only mentioned them by name. In the second half he turned around to confront them, because no one else would and he felt he had to. The conversation escalated into more racist slurs, at which point one of the guys said something along the lines of “this place is going to ****, we need another little Austrian”, and while he felt no violence against him or his family, he is asking everyone to please speak out against racism like this, because if we don’t it only continues. He was very affected by the interaction.”
I have lived in Germany for around 30 months on two different periods, first around 2012-13, then 2016-17.
First time I felt absolutely great about the country and completely safe.
Second time not so much. In two different places people asked me (and family) if we were from Syria/Middle East, politely but totally unnecessary for the occasion (one in a clinic !!). The lift in our apartment one night got a graffiti, in German, which roughly meant ''Europe is for whites, other ***s can go to Africa".
Maybe total coincidence, but I really doubt it.
just to add: he starts crying because no one else would stand up to them except him and instead of people getting behind him, others started to also attack him (verbally) and cheering the racist guys on. they accused him of being "pro rape" and sonsense like it.
Unfortunately, given recent political actions and election outcomes, I think it is a growing trend. And maybe not of “more racists/xenophobes” but rather just more people feeling comfortable expressing their racist/xenophobic beliefs, which is disconcerting and dangerous.Hopefully this is the lunatic fringe, as also exist here, especially amongst some football fans, rather than a growing trend.
Unfortunately, given recent political actions and election outcomes, I think it is a growing trend. And maybe not of “more racists/xenophobes” but rather just more people feeling comfortable expressing their racist/xenophobic beliefs, which is disconcerting and dangerous.
You touch on a truth, though: often these abhorrent movements, when they begin to rise again, can first be emboldened in football, as there is a ready made “tribe” (often disenfranchised already) in which it can thrive.
There are many instances of this in European, South American, and African football, unfortunately, and some of them are horrific in scope and outcome.
All of that said, and because of it, this abuse toward Leroy and Ilkay needs to be addressed by the governing bodies. There will be plenty of evidence of it, with at least a few being willing to come forward to give account, and the DFB, UEFA, and local police should investigate. There are MANY laws in Germany that would make this abuse punishable, and they should be enforced for obvious reasons. That comment about the “little Austrian” is chilling but, frighteningly, it’s not the first time I have heard it uttered by a young German (heard a teenage **** say it last year in Freiburg).
In case you don't see it in the International thread.
Honigstein reporting that he said he's alright:
He must have unbelievable flexibility to not suffer any injury from this or the Ralls tackle last year, must have been passed on to him from his mum.