Thursday May 13th 2021
“In the brevity of time …”
Aogo calls Lehmann expulsion “overreaction”
Dennis Aogo did not expect that the publication of a WhatsApp message would have such quick consequences. The ex-professional footballer speaks of an “overreaction” in relation to Jens Lehmann’s expulsion from Hertha BSC. He himself is currently facing massive hatred.
Former national soccer player Dennis Aogo believes that it is wrong that Jens Lehmann lost his position on the Hertha BSC supervisory board immediately after criticizing his racist statement. “I would not have expected Hertha to exclude him from all offices so quickly. I find that an overreaction, even in the short time it takes,” the 34-year-old told the “Spiegel”.
He would like “that in such cases you enter into a dialogue and exchange ideas – and by that I do not mean to briefly call it, but that each side takes the time to look at the matter objectively and intensively.” After that, you can still think about whether a collaboration is still possible or not.
Aogo and his wife have been heavily insulted in the past few days. “It’s extreme. There have been death threats and extremely racist slurs against me and my wife. Bottom drawer.” In one case, Aogo filed a criminal complaint: On Aogo’s Facebook page, someone had alleged that Aogo had used the N-word himself in connection with an obscene line-up. “There was no basis for the claim, it was even a fake profile. That is a danger,” said Aogo in an interview with the news magazine.
Tübingen’s Lord Mayor Boris Palmer had picked up the post and, according to his own statement, used it ironically. Aogo said: “Irony in politics is always a bit difficult. In terms of content, I have nothing against his action, because he is also directed against the cancel culture.” He only found the linguistic level to be problematic. “If I look at it in context, I can of course see the irony. For me, the subject is through.”
Say costs Aogo his job
In the past few days, the former professional footballer had to take action himself because of a verbal derailment. For the time being, he no longer appears as an expert on the TV broadcaster Sky. The 34-year-old had used the expression “train to the point of gassing” as part of the broadcast of the Champions League semi-final match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Aogo told the “Bild” newspaper: “Of course, this word must not be used in any context. That was a big mistake, I can only sincerely apologize for it.” During their rule, the National Socialists systematically murdered millions of people in gas chambers in concentration camps. Poison gas had previously been used in the First World War.
One day before his own misstep, Aogo had published Lehmann’s WhatsApp message in which the former national goalkeeper asked: “Is Dennis actually your quota black?” The sentence was mistaken with a laughing smiley in front of the question mark. Lehmann then lost his supervisory board position at Bundesliga club Hertha BSC on Wednesday. Sky and Sport1 announced that they no longer want to invite the 51-year-old as a guest on their television programs. Lehmann himself apologized publicly to Aogo.
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