Liverpool Calls for Investigation After Under-18 Team Walks Off Over Racism Allegations

Liverpool has demanded an urgent investigation following their under-18 team’s decision to walk off the pitch due to alleged racist abuse during two youth matches in Germany. The incidents occurred during the Bundesliga Cup youth tournament against Hoffenheim on Friday and Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, both of which were abandoned as a result.

Club’s Official Statement

In a statement, Liverpool confirmed the events: “A member of our under-18s team reported being racially abused by an opponent during the Bundesliga Cup youth tournament at Schwabisch Hall in Germany on Friday. The player immediately informed the match official, his teammates, and our coaching staff. As a result, the management team decided to stop the game and leave the pitch together.”

The statement continued, “In a further incident on Saturday, the same player was targeted again. Following similar procedures, the management team opted to leave the pitch once more.”

Support for Affected Players

Liverpool expressed their support for the player and called for a thorough investigation. “We are proud of our player for his prompt actions and the maturity of his response. He and any affected teammates are being supported by the academy safeguarding team. The club urges our opponents and the tournament organizers to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into the incidents.”

Response from Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt’s sporting director, Timmo Hardung, addressed the accusations in an interview with German newspaper Bild. He emphasized that the club takes the matter seriously but suggested the issue was a linguistic misunderstanding. “Our entire youth academy, like Eintracht Frankfurt, is multicultural, and we uphold clear values against racism. We believe this was a linguistic issue and hope to have resolved the misunderstanding with the players and Liverpool officials.”

Call for Action

Liverpool’s demand for an investigation highlights the ongoing issues of racism in football and underscores the importance of immediate and decisive actions to support affected players and ensure such incidents are thoroughly examined and addressed.