Germany international Jerome Boateng has revealed details of racism he experienced in football, dating back to his days as a youth player, local media reported on Friday.
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Boateng said in his new lifestyle magazine `Boa’ that like many footballers, he has unfortunately a lot of experience with racism.
“When I warm up on the edge of the pitch, I often hear spectators making monkey noises from the stands, although I have played so many games for Germany.
“Or they shout things like ‘fuck off to your country’ or ‘shit nigger’,’’ the 30-year-old, who won the World Cup in 2014, said.
Boateng revealed the colour of his skin had led to discrimination even when he was a youngster playing in Berlin.
“A father of an opposition player came to our side, abused me the whole time and called to his son: ‘Do him, the fucking nigger’. At some point I started to cry.’’
According to him, he will soon talk to his seven-year-old daughter about racism and that there are some parts of Germany he will not let her go.
The Bayern Munich defender also spoke of Mesut Oezil, who stepped down from the Germany team after the World Cup in Russia this year.
“It was clear to me after the tournament that we in the team should have done much more for Mesut and backed him strongly in public, it is a shame that it did not happen,’’ Boateng stressed.
Oezil, German-born with Turkish parents, had his picture taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in May which caused a stir before the World Cup.
Oezil retired via social media from the national team, accusing the German federation of not supporting him in the face of racism and for making him feel like a scapegoat for the group stage exit from Russia.