Tokyo Olympics: Germany Suspended A Training Game Due To Accusations Of Racism
The German Olympic football team left the field during a match in preparation for the Games in Tokyo on Saturday in response to alleged racist insults from a player of the national team of Honduras to the German defender Jordan Torunariga.
The game was stopped with five minutes remaining and with the score 1-1, the German soccer federation said.
“The German team left the field together after our player Jordan Torunarigha was racially insulted,” the federation said on Twitter.
Torunarigha’s club, Hertha Berlin, responded by saying “ that’s the only correct decision! ”
The friendly game in Wakayama, Japan was Germany’s last preparation match before it plays Brazil in Yokohama on Thursday. Coach Stefan Kuntz’ team also plays Saudi Arabia on July 25 and Ivory Coast on July 28 in Group D.
The 23-year-old Torunarigha, who is the son of former player Ojokojo Torunarigha of Nigeria, has faced racist abuse before. He was targeted with monkey chants by some Schalke fans in a German Cup game on Feb. 4, 2020. Schalke was fined 50,000 euros ($54,600) for its supporters’ abuse.
