World Cup 2014: Fifa concerned by Germany fans in black make-up during Ghana match

Published on: 22 June 2014
World Cup 2014: Fifa concerned by Germany fans in black make-up during Ghana match
Black faces

Fifa has promised its disciplinary committee will investigate photographs that show several German fans attended their team’s match against Ghana wearing black make-up.

Pictures circulated on social media of smiling Germany fans with blacked up faces wearing T-shirts on which they had felt tipped the names of their opponents.

A Fifa spokeswoman said that any evidence of discrimination would be considered by its disciplinary committee under what she called its zero tolerance rules.

“We always take any evidence or submissions to our disciplinary committee. It is the disciplinary committee that will meet,” she said.

“If they see any grounds they will open proceedings. Then it is up to the disciplinary commission to take the decision.”

During the match, which finished as a 2-2 draw, a German fan with pro-Nazi messages written on his body evaded stewards and invaded the pitch.

He was eventually led away by the Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari.

The European anti-discrimination network Fare had previously submitted a complaint to Fifa over several neo-Nazi banners displayed at matches involving Russia and Croatia.

“If something like a banner is spotted, it will be removed,” the Fifa spokeswoman said. “If something is not spotted and someone has images of it, then if anyone submits evidence of those things then our disciplinary committee will consider it. We clearly have zero tolerance of any form of discrimination.”

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