Football defender Antonio Rüdiger has spoken out in favor of game crashes after racist incidents. "I think it makes sense to stop the game, if I were to hear racist insults from the stands, I'll be the first to go out," said Rüdiger of the "Bild am Sonntag". So far, the managers have been doing "quite little" in such cases.
In contrast, the Rüdiger finds the proposal of Raheem Sterling of Manchester City to punish racist incidents in the affected club with a deduction of nine points, for too hard. "In the end you punish the team - and thus the wrong people," he says. However, the 26-year-old can understand the claim of the English national striker: "It would wake up some clubs, but personally I am against a point deduction."
Rüdiger finds the campaign leader in the Premier League: "All spectators in the stadium are offensively called to report incidents immediately to the folders, which I think is a very meaningful and possibly effective way."
This could also prevent incidents such as the game of the German national team against Serbia in March in Wolfsburg, when Leroy Sané was racially insulted. "When I sit there and allow something like that, it's also a way of accepting racism, saying, I've seen nothing and heard nothing, I'm weak."
"It hurts, it is a shame, but we are prepared"
In the recent past, there have been many racist incidents in football stadiums, most recently on Friday in Romania against Sweden. Shortly after his substitution in the 78th minute he had heard racist swear words, said the Swedish striker Alexander Isak on Swedish radio. He then asked the referee if he had heard them - "but he had heard nothing."
Isak had told the referee by his own admission that he should not interrupt the game. "I think you should not be so influenced by such - sorry - idiots," said the 20-year-old, "It hurts, it's a shame, but we're prepared for it."
In October, the match between Bulgaria and England had been interrupted twice because of racist comments by Bulgarian fans. Referee Ivan Bebek had warned that the match would be canceled and discussed with England coach Gareth Southgate. However, the English team decided to continue playing in order to make a mark against racism.
