News in 2006

18th September 2006

Ref praised for handling racist chants

A German referee threatened to end a Bundesliga match because of racist taunts from the crowd.

Michael Weiner warned fans over the loudspeaker that he would end Saturday's game between Alemannia Aachen and Borussia Moenchengladbach if the words "asylum seeker" were heard again.

It was directed at Moenchengladbach's Brazilian forward, Kahe, during Aachen's 4-2 home win.

"The decision from Mr. Weiner was completely right," German referees head Volker Roth said Sunday. "Racism doesn't belong in a football stadium - that's why the referees were told again not to tolerate such smears."

Germany striker Gerald Asamoah, who is black, was racially taunted last week in a German Cup match. On Friday, the German soccer federation fined Hansa Rostock 20,000 Euros (US$25,446) because fans of its development team had taunted the Schalke player.

Roth said he believed Saturday's racist chanting was a copycat incident triggered by what happened to Asamoah.

"The spectators, too, have to take action so that a few people don't engage in that behaviour," Roth said.