Former Ghana left-back Hans Adu Sarpei has advised the German Football Association (DFB) to take the fight against racism seriously ans strongly.
The former Schalke defender becomes the latest to join the debate in the wake of the fight against racism in the world which has now spread to the football industry.
“The DFB does too little for me. Hang up signs and the players then come in and say: We are against racism, that is not enough, ”said the former football professional to TV station Phoenix. He referred to the high radiance of the DFB team.
“Let’s have a look at the German national team. Sané, Boateng, Gnabry. Where do they all come from? Why don’t we make a game in Ghana, where Boateng’s roots come from. Easy to build bridges. Football has such an effect, such a force. Show people what it’s like in Ghana, ”said Sarpei.
Sarpei lauded the action by FSV Mainz 05 to dismiss a member who had complained about too many black players in the team: “This is a strong reaction from FSV Mainz. But I still wish they had written about it. These colored players, there is a German, an Austrian, a Luxembourger, a Dutchman. ”
Sarpei also wants more commitment against racism from those responsible for social media platforms. “In social networks, people can hide behind a false identity. Actually, a lot more people would have to be hired to report hate commentators. Only when these are displayed do they shrink and become calmer, nothing happens beforehand, ”said Sarpei.
Sarpei was born in Ghana and has lived in Germany since he was three years old. As a professional football player, he was under contract with MSV Duisburg, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04, among others. Sarpei is now also a social media consultant.
Former soccer player David Odonkor had experience of racial insults as a child of a German mother and a Ghanaian father. “The first three or four years at school were just really, really bitter for me. I was pushed and insulted by the other children. I can still remember a situation well. One of the older boys came up to me and asked, ‘Hey you Negro, what do you want?’ I didn’t let that sit on me. At some point I was only able to defend myself against it, ”said the ex-professional of the“ Rheinische Post ”.
According to Odonkor, who was born in Bünde in Westphalia, little has changed today. His nephews are in school today “just like me back then,” said the 2006 World Cup participant. “Even if they haven’t started the argument, they are portrayed as perpetrators – only because a white man claims it. That shouldn’t be! ”Said the 36-year-old.
That affects him less today. “But there are other examples: When my sister was looking for a house, the door was opened, she was looked at and the lady just said:” No, sorry, we are not renting to you, “said Odonkor. “This is racism and just doesn’t work.”
