U21 European Championship
“Lower drawer”: racism scandal shocks U21
Youssoufa Moukoko missed a penalty early in the German U21s’ opening game. photo
© Sebastian Kahnert/dpa
The U21s’ disappointment at the draw at the start of the European Championship gave way to horror: Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam were racially insulted after missing shots. The coach demands consequences.
The massive racist insults against the U21 internationals Youssoufa Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam caused shock and horror in the German team. “It’s absurd when people comment anonymously on the Internet and racially insult the boys, that doesn’t work at all,” said coach Antonio Di Salvo after the 1-1 (1-1) at the start of the European Football Championship against Israel. Moukoko had previously reported the comments and insults against himself and Ngankam, which pushed the defending champion’s disappointing start to the European Championship into the background.
what happened
After Moukoko and Ngankam each missed a penalty in the game and missed the best chance of victory, the two strikers were racially insulted and hostile on Instagram. “If we win, we’re all Germans. If we lose, these monkey comments come. Things like that just don’t belong in football,” said Moukoko, who reported emotionally about the messages on social networks after the game. “It hurt this time,” said the 18-year-old. The news was “disgusting”. Ngankam initially did not comment publicly.
How are the reactions?
Moukoko and Ngankam received a lot of support from the team and the coach – at the same time teammates expressed horror and disappointment. “I hope it just stops,” said goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who says he has experienced racism himself. “It’s 2023. I don’t understand why people are still racist these days.” Coach Di Salvo said he was “personally shocked and disappointed. Any kind of racism and discrimination is the bottom drawer, that doesn’t work at all.”
What are the consequences?
Moukoko called for an end to the insults. “Slowly it’s enough. It’s about time that a sign was set against it,” he said. However, he does not want to deactivate the comment function on his accounts in the social networks. “That would be the wrong way. You have to fight against these people,” said the Borussia Dortmund striker. Di Salvo said: “It’s not easy to control everything on the internet, but there definitely has to be a penalty.” The 44-year-old announced a reappraisal within the team. “I definitely need to talk to the lads now and talk to the whole team.”
How is the sport going?
Di Salvo fears that the insults could also affect the further course of the EM. “It’s not beneficial. Now it’s up to us to build the boys up,” said the coach. After the disappointing draw despite many chances and a majority at half-time, the German U21s are already under pressure against the Czech Republic on Sunday. The team needs a win to advance in the group with England, who beat the Czech Republic 2-0. Di Salvo had proclaimed the Olympic ticket as a major goal, which the three best teams of the tournament in addition to the Olympic hosts France would buy.