Dennis Aogo on the allegation against VfB coach Bruno Labbadia: "It's far from racism"
Created: 12/15/2022, 8:55 am
By: Niklas Noack
For a statement at his first press conference after returning to VfB Stuttgart, coach Bruno Labbadia was accused of racism.
That's what his former protégé Dennis Aogo says in an interview with BW24.
Stuttgart – Did Bruno Labbadia make racist remarks when he was presented as coach of VfB Stuttgart?
Dennis Aogo, who himself played under Labbadia at Hamburger SV, told
BW24
: "I've known Bruno for more than ten years.
The last thing I would attribute to him is racism.
And the statement is far from racism for me.”
Labbadia was asked at the press conference on Monday (December 12) whether there was a skiing ban for VfB Stuttgart players.
The reason for the question was the serious injury to German national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who broke his lower leg while ski touring.
The coach then said: "If I look at our team, I wouldn't find that many now, so if I imagine a Coulibaly or a Guirassy on skis - maybe I'm wrong there too.
But for me, I simply associate them more with the sun and with lust.”
Racism allegation against VfB coach Bruno Labbadia: Dennis Aogo criticizes social media
A discussion then flared up on Twitter as to whether the statements made by VfB coach Labbadia were racist.
What speaks for it?
Labbadia apparently connects certain characteristics of the players with their black skin color.
Whether these are negative or positive attributes does not initially change the fact that such statements are discriminatory.
Aogo sees it differently and senses the problem more on social media: "Sometimes I have the feeling that every word is taken into account when someone says something publicly and then they just wait for you to be able to jump in somewhere to get out of it to make topic.
There are cases where it's justified, but that's a trifle for me and I think it's wrong to make an issue out of it."
Jens Lehmann racially insulted Dennis Aogo
Aogo himself has been racially insulted several times.
Ex-national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann once sent the former VfB player a message with the words: "Is Dennis actually your quota black?" Aogo then made the message public on Instagram and wrote: "WOW, are you serious?
I guess the message wasn't meant for me!!!" Aogo was working at
Sky
as a TV expert at the time.
Lehmann apologized, but lost his position on the supervisory board at Hertha BSC.
Tübingen's controversial mayor, Boris Palmer, also got involved in this dispute, seeing it as an example of cancel culture.
In this context, the politician provoked with a racist post on Facebook: "The Aogo is a bad racist.
Offered his n***s***** to women.”
Dennis Aogo (left) played for Hamburger SV under coach Bruno Labbadia (right).
© imago sport photo service
VfB Stuttgart: Dennis Aogo believes Bruno Labbadia is capable of staying up
Aogo played for HSV under Labbadia between 2009 and 2010.
The former player also knows VfB Stuttgart very well: from 2017 to 2019 he wore the jersey with the chest ring and was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga with the Swabians in his last season.
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As Aogo explained to
BW24
, he still follows VfB.
He even saw the Labbadia press conference live and trusts his former coach with the Stuttgart team to stay up in the league: “Bruno has proven several times that he is able to turn things around in such a situation.
He is very experienced and has a great deal of football knowledge.
He was a very good player himself.” Aogo had also heard the criticism of Labbadia's commitment, but according to the former defensive player, “there is a lot of it, especially in traditional clubs.
I think he can do it and I wish him all the best.”
Former international Dennis Aogo (left) supports VfB coach Bruno Labbadia.
(Montage) © IMAGO/ Gartner/IMAGO / Sportfoto Rudel/Montage/BW24
In general, Aogo finds the current path of VfB understandable.
Regarding the fact that the sports director and trainer were recently replaced, he said: "Alexander Wehrle (CEO, editor's note) is consistent in his actions.
He also emphasized that at the press conference: At the end of the day, everyone has to be measured by their sporting success.
Those responsible have reviewed the last two and a half years and it came out that the bottom line is that VfB is not where we would like it to be.
That is why the decisions were made.”
