Two games canceled after players claim abuse
Liverpool have called for an urgent investigation after members of their under-18 squad were subjected to racist abuse during two consecutive matches at a youth tournament in Germany.
Liverpool players and coaching staff walked off the pitch during both their Bundesliga Cup youth tournament matches against Hoffenheim on Friday and Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday after the same player alleged he had been assaulted by the referee and coaching staff. Both games were abandoned.
A club statement said: “Liverpool can confirm that a member of their under-18 team has reported being subjected to racist abuse by an opposing team whilst playing in the Bundesliga Cup youth tournament in Schwabisch Hall, Germany on Friday.”
“The player immediately notified the referee, his teammates and our coaching staff. As a result, Liverpool FC management took the decision to abandon the match and for everyone to leave the pitch.”
“In a separate incident, the same player was the target of verbal abuse during a competitive match (Saturday). Again the player notified his teammates and coaching staff and our management team again decided to leave the pitch.”
“We are proud of the player’s swift action in reporting the incident and the maturity with which he responded. He, and his affected teammates, are being supported by the Academy’s safeguarding team.”
“The club calls on its opponents and the competition organisers to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into this incident.”
Eintracht sporting director Timo Hardung told German newspaper Bild that the club took the accusations “seriously” but insisted it was a “linguistic issue” over a term commonly used in Germany.
“Our entire youth academy is multicultural, just like Eintracht Frankfurt, and we have clear values that we follow and demand again and again,” Hardung said. “Racism has no place here, but we still take such accusations seriously…
“We can rule out any racism. It was a language issue and we hope that any misunderstanding between the player and Liverpool officials has been cleared up.”
Hoffenheim has been contacted for comment.
release date: Radio News Hub
