Ogungbure

In spite of assurances by Hallesche FC and the German Police to protect German-based Nigerian player, Adebowale Ogungbure, from racial attack when they met his club recently in a local derby, host fans went on rampage abusing the former Under-23 player in Germany.

Their fans exhibited their trademark of hatred for the dark skinned Nigerian. The Germans, however, added a new causality to their growing list of footballers racially abused in their land.

But this time around, Ogungbure was wise enough not to respond, as he did the last time he was abused, as his Congolese teammate Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien was also tasted racially abused in the league game.

In what seemed like an unending hatred and a sign of warning for Ogungbure to stay clear of playing football in Germany, the ugly incident of making animal noise whenever he touches the ball was the order of proceedings through out the duration of the match, which was played between FC Sachesen and Hallesche.

Incidentally, it was the same Hallesche FC fans that spat at and beat up the Nigerian player during a game in March this year; prompting the former Under-23 skipper to make a retaliatory Hitler salute to the crowd.

Making such Hitler salute is outlawed in Germany and prosecutors launched an investigation against Ogungbure for making an "unconstitutional gesture" but dropped it in the wake of a nationwide support for the Nigerian. The Sunday’s incident has showed up once more, the level of racism in German football, as it has came to the knowledge of German Football Federation, (DFB) with its President, Theo Zwanziger making few phone calls to investigate the matter.

In the interim, German football Federation have fined Hallesche FC and also promised to punish the club if investigations prove that they did not do enough to ensure their fans respect the rules and regulations that govern football in Germany.

But the Federation’s spokesperson, Harald Stenger, declared later that it was up to the regional FA to decide whether to clamp down on Hallesche FC for the unruly behaviour of their fans.
New anti-racism measures from FIFA call for match suspensions, points deductions and disqualification from competitions if fans engage in racist abuse. However, that has not deterred racist Germans from taunting non-Europeans.