Race-fueled provocation following embarrassment: DFB speaks out firmly

Football governing body in Germany, the DFB, stands firm in the face of online racial and harmful slurs targeted at some of their national players following their match in Bratislava.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 11:31 AM

1 min read

Bigoted provocations follow public condemnation: DFB issues firm statement

Race-fueled provocation following embarrassment: DFB speaks out firmly

The German Football Association (DFB) has issued a statement following Germany's 0:2 defeat against Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier, expressing dissatisfaction with the situation and urging fans to support the team.

The loss, which marked Germany's first defeat to Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier - on the 53rd attempt - was met with racist and hateful insults directed at players like Ridle Baku, Antonio Rüdiger, and Karim Adeyemi. The DFB has reported these incidents to the public prosecutor's office.

In the statement, the DFB stressed that hate has no place in their official channels. They asked fans to keep going together with the team, to support them heavily, particularly following this heavy defeat. The DFB's appeal was a concrete reaction to very harsh attacks, and it was not made precautionarily.

The DFB also addressed the situation being a reaction to very harsh attacks, but no new facts about the appeal not being made precautionarily were provided. They asked fans not to comment with hate or racism, and to focus on supporting the team, which is currently coached by Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann.

The post on Instagram shared by DFB-Team (@dfb_team) likely pertains to this recent loss. The DFB needs fan support following this heavy defeat, and they asked fans to keep going together with the team. They also emphasised that hate has no place in their official channels.

The statement was made after the 0:2 defeat against Slovakia, a team ranked 52nd in the world. The DFB expressed dissatisfaction with the situation but asked fans not to comment with hate or racism. They urged fans to support the heavily defeated team of Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann.