News in 2006

12th April 2006

German player wins injunction over racist pamphlet

Berlin (AP) - A German soccer player has succeeded in blocking a far-right party from using his jersey in a pre-World Cup pamphlet promoting extremist views.

A Berlin judge ruled that the cover of a pamphlet by the National Democratic Party (NPD) was racist and defamed Patrick Owomoyela, a German with a Nigerian father, the German soccer federation (DFB) said Thursday.

The pamphlet pictured a white player wearing Owomoyela's jersey below the words: "White, not just a jersey colour! For a real national team!"

Further distribution could result in a fine of as much as 250,000 euros ($355,570 Cdn), the DFB said.

The party said it had not yet received the judge's ruling, but disputed that Owomoyela's No. 25 was visible.

"Neither the player nor his number were recognizable," NPD spokesman Klaus Beier said.

He also said the idea of "white" referred not to skin colour, but a series of betting and corruption scandals that have plagued the German football league in past months.

Source: Slam Sports