The DFB Cup clash between Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Dortmund was overshadowed by a nasty foul at the end. But also by disgusting comments.
There was plenty of atmosphere on the pitch during the highlight of the first round of the DFB Cup between Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Dortmund.
The third-division side caused the big favorites and Champions League participants plenty of problems and can look back on a good performance.
This made their elimination all the more bitter in a match where there was never any real difference in class. From Essen’s point of view, the 0-1 result had a lot to offer in terms of sport, but the big picture was somewhat marred by a horrific foul by Kelsey Owusu on Yan Couto in almost the last action of the game.
Owusu struck the Dortmund right-back on the knee with his outstretched leg and was lucky not to be sent off. The Brazilian had to be carried off on a stretcher and now faces an anxious wait. He is likely to be out for a long time.
RWE coach Uwe Koschinat spoke to his protégé shortly after the game and commented on the incident at the press conference: “I just saw the footage. It’s unforgivable for a player to go in so hard. But it’s not unforgivable because the player is black, it’s unforgivable because it was a terrible tackle.”
The reference to skin color was in response to some of the distasteful comments directed at Essen’s number 30 on social media shortly after the final whistle – something that understandably upset Koschinat: “I find it despicable what some of the comments directed at people are like. It’s completely inappropriate.”
No one does that on purpose. That’s the way it is in sports, and it was very unfortunate. I agree, that’s sports, and it’s not right for anyone to send comments to the player. That’s not proper.
He went on to defend Owusu: “Kelsey is a young man whom I have advised not to listen to idiots. It was a mistake and I think he has to learn from it. I really hope that the Dortmund player is not seriously injured.”
BVB coach Niko Kovač also commented on the incident: “It was a very hard tackle. Couto is in the dressing room with an ice pack on his knee. I hope and think that it’s not too serious, that the ligaments aren’t damaged – we’ll have to wait and see. If it’s just a bad bruise, we can be satisfied.”
He added: “Nobody does that on purpose. That’s the way it is in sport and it was very unfortunate. I agree, that’s sport and it’s not right for anyone to send comments to the player. That’s not proper.”
Following the incidents in Leipzig involving Schalke’s Antwi-Adjei and those in the match between RSV Eintracht and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, this is already the third scenario in the first round of the cup in which, unfortunately, it was not the sport that took center stage, but the lack of humanity shown by a few individuals.