“You can’t do anything to me”
DFB and U21 shoot back against hatred and shock
06/23/2023, 4:38 p.m
The under-21s’ botched start at the European Championships is overshadowed by a racism scandal: Youssoufa Moukoko breaks his silence after hate comments online – and demands a sign. Interior Minister Faeser also speaks up, while the DFB calls for action.
Still shocked, but all the more determined, Antonio Di Salvo and Joti Chatzialexiou stepped in front of the microphones the day after the racism scandal. The U21 head coach and the sporting director of the German Football Association (DFB) stood in front of the badly hit Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam at the EM team hotel in Batumi, Georgia, made a plea for an open society – and announced resolute action against the perpetrators. Home Secretary Nancy Faeser also condemned the vile insults.
“We stand by and behind our players 1000 percent. This resistance, which comes from outside, lets us move even closer together,” said Di Salvo on the racist comments his professionals made after two missed penalties in the 1-1 (1-1 ) had to read on social media at the start of the European Championship against Israel. The DFB announced that it would consistently exhaust its legal options against the perpetrators.
“We don’t know whether it will be successful, but we know that we simply have to stand up to these people now,” said Chatzialexiou: “We want to show that to the police, politicians, but above all to the people that we will at least try our best to investigate it.”
The preparation for the second group match against the Czech Republic on Sunday (6 p.m./Sat.1), which is so important in terms of sport, initially took a back seat. Ngankam, who earns his money at Hertha BSC, thanked Instagram for the “many encouraging comments” he received in response. “It’s bad that in 2023 there are still ‘people’ hiding behind anonymous accounts to rabble racistly. You can’t do anything to me,” wrote the 22-year-old.
Faeser reports, DFB calls for action
Moukoko, who, like Ngankam, missed a penalty (3’/80′), had shown himself injured by the hostilities late the evening before. “If we win, we are all Germans. If we lose, then these monkey comments come, then we are the blacks,” said the exceptional striker from Borussia Dortmund. He called for “slowly a sign” against hate on the net.
Federal Interior Minister Faeser called this out, at least verbally, and spoke of “inhuman and disgusting” comments on Twitter: “Our national players show the best side of our modern and diverse Germany, these racist comments show the ugliest side.” But Chatzialexiou also called for action, the anonymity on the net had to be broken. The DFB also wants to be present on Facebook, Instagram and Co.
However, those responsible for the U21s also announced that they would do their best to keep the difficult topic away from the team during the course of the tournament. “We only focus on the sport, we don’t let ourselves be divided, we are one,” said Di Salvo: “It is also the team’s wish to end this topic.” And to use the power to prepare for the duel with the Czech Republic.
One thing is clear, emphasized captain Yann Aurel Bisseck, who himself has had racist experiences: “If we get another penalty, then Mouki and Jessic will be the first to want to take it. The whole team is behind it.”