A racist slur directed at Christopher Antwi-Adjei overshadowed Schalke’s Cup victory over Lok Leipzig in August. Now a ruling has been issued, but Lok Leipzig refuses to accept it.
Two and a half months ago, Schalke 04 advanced to the second round of the DFB Cup thanks to a 1-0 victory in extra time at Lok Leipzig. However, there was little cause for celebration. A racist incident overshadowed the match; a fan of the host regional league team had insulted S04 pro Christopher Antwi-Adjei with the N-word. Afterward, Schalke’s forward was booed by numerous Lok supporters.
Today, Tuesday, the DFB Sports Court handed down its ruling. The Saxon club was fined 30,000 euros, a third of which can be used for preventive measures against discrimination and racism.
Another condition could also prove costly for the club: a section of the stadium is to be closed to spectators for the next DFB Cup match. This includes the lower tier of the grandstand (256 seats) and the Dammsitz section (1,200 spectators). The insult directed at Antwi-Adjei also originated from this area of the Bruno-Plache-Stadion. The fan ban could result in revenue losses in the five-figure range. However, it remains unclear whether and when Lok Leipzig will play in the DFB Cup again.
The ruling is not yet final—and Lok Leipzig intends to appeal it. “Racism is inexcusable and cannot be justified by anything! In the past, we as a club have repeatedly taken a clear and unambiguous stand against any form of discrimination, and we will continue to do so in the future,” emphasizes Managing Director Martin Mieth in a statement.
However, he goes on to explain that the severity of the penalty is disproportionate for a fourth-division club. “With the possible partial ban on spectators at the next DFB Cup match, the total penalty could reach the high five-figure range—which would be significantly more than one percent of our annual revenue. To put it bluntly: For an average Bundesliga club, that would mean a penalty in the millions.”
However, should the appeal announced by Leipzig be unsuccessful, the club will attempt to pass the penalty on to those responsible. “If this is not possible, we will have to consider where we can cut costs, which will then leave us short of funds for the further development of our infrastructure and the team,” says Mieth.
The incident occurred early in the cup match. Antwi-Adjei was about to take a throw-in when he heard the discriminatory remark and then alerted the referees. After a brief interruption, play resumed, and Antwi-Adjei had to endure loud boos every time he touched the ball until the final whistle. “It’s very disappointing to still have to experience something like this these days,” said the 31-year-old after the final whistle. The police launched an investigation, and Lok Leipzig apologized to Antwi-Adjei. The incident caused a major stir; even FIFA President Gianni Infantino commented on it afterward.