BERLIN: Gerald Asamoah, ex-Germany midfielder, has criticised his former team-mates for not standing up against racism in German football during his time at the peak of the game writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
In his autobiography Asamoah recalls a cup-tie in 2006 between Schalke and Hansa Rostock II in which he was targeted by the crowd from kickoff to final whistle.
He says: “I always wanted and hoped that my team-mates in the national squad, especially the captain, would speak out but they never did. I was very disappointed at the time and have become more upset the more I think about that now.”
Germany’s captain at the time was midfielder Michael Ballack.
Asamoah was a member of the Germany squad who finished third in the 2006 World Cup finals.
He says he had considered quitting the national team in protest at monkey chants from fans in Germany.
Asamoah adds: “I really did wonder about the point of playing for a country whose fans did not want me.”
# # # #