Leon Balogun, Anthony Ujah: Nigerian stars racially abused during Bundesliga game

The Nigerian players were booed with monkey chants during the game.

Nigerian players Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah were racially abused during a Bundesliga game on Saturday, January 13.

Balogun and Ujah’s Mainz visited Hannover 96 with the defender on the bench all through the game while the striker was a second-half substitute.

Mainz surrendered a two-goal lead to lose the game 3-2.

Monkey chants

After the game, Super Eagles defender Balogun revealed that he and his compatriot Ujah were racially abused by Hannover 96 fans while they were warming up.

“Unfortunately, the extremely bitter defeat yesterday was not the only low point: Anthony Ujah and I were racially insulted with warm-hearted apologia in front of the Hanover 96-fan block, among other things with monkey lutes,” Balogun said in a statement on his social media.

 

“I am appalled that such behaviour in the Bundesliga in 2018. Everyday players of different backgrounds, skin colours and religions fight together for their fans, they still exist - we do everything for the fans every week, but some of them do not even give us respect - there should not be room for racism in any corner of the world!"

Mainz in a statement expressed their disappointment in the situation and revealed that they have contacted Hannover.

 

“I’m taken aback by what Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah had to experience on Saturday," Mainz’s sports director Rouven Schroder said in a statement on the club's website.

"It’s unfathomable that players in the Bundesliga still face racial discrimination to this day. 1. FSV Mainz 05 stand together with their players in the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination.

"Our common goal must be to remove all forms of racism, hate and xenophobia from Germany’s stadiums once and for all.”

Balogun has made seven league appearances so far this season while Ujah was making his first Bundesliga appearance for Mainz after his January move from Chinese side Liaoning Whowin F.C.

Just a month ago, Super Eagles star Uche Agbo who plays in Belgium with Standard Liege was also racially abused in a game.