Leipzig trainer Muslic comments on racism: "Everyone is devoid of personal identity"
Racist Incident Marred DFB-Pokal Match Between Leipzig and Schalke
During the first-round match of the DFB-Pokal between Lokomotive Leipzig and Schalke 04 on August 17, 2025, a disturbing incident of racism took place. Christopher Antwi-Adjei, a Schalke player, reported a racist slur from the stands during the 15th minute of the match.
The incident occurred as Antwi-Adjei prepared to take a throw-in, with at least one Leipzig supporter directing racial insults at him. The referee, Max Burda, halted the game briefly at 0-0 to allow for a stadium announcement addressing the abuse. However, some home fans booed Antwi-Adjei every time he touched the ball until the final whistle.
Schalke 04 strongly condemned the incident, with their board and fans emphasizing their commitment against racism and discrimination. The team's captain, Kenan Karaman, confirmed that they would have left the field if there were more racist incidents during the game at the Bruno-Plache Stadium.
Leipzig later apologized to Antwi-Adjei and FC Schalke 04 for the racist slur, but Schalke does not accept the "single person" theory regarding the incident. Schalke coach Miron Muslic refutes this theory, stating that the whole stadium felt the impact of the racist incident.
The police and German football authorities are investigating the incident. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the German Soccer Federation president, Bernd Neuendorf, have publicly condemned racism and supported further action.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei expressed his disappointment and hope that the perpetrator reflects on their actions. He urged the person responsible to think twice about their words. The Sky TV station reported that the racist slur was "not verified," but this has not been confirmed.
The incident overshadowed the DFB-Pokal match, with the focus shifting from the game to the fight against racism in football stadiums. It is a reminder that black players are often targeted with racism in such settings, and it highlights the need for continued efforts to eradicate such behaviour from the sport.
The community policy of the stadium failed to adequately address the racial abuse, as seen in the incident during the DFB-Pokal match between Leipzig and Schalke. This incident, classified under general-news and crime-and-justice, involved repeated racist slurs against Schalke's Christopher Antwi-Adjei, impacting the employment policy of the football club, favoring stricter measures against discrimination. Furthermore, the European leagues and FIFA must reassess their employment policies to ensure a safer environment for all athletes, making it clear that there is zero tolerance for racism in sports, particularly in cases like the Champions League.
