Christopher Antwi-Adjei Endures Racist Abuse in Schalke Cup Victory
Schalke 04’s DFB-Pokal win over Lokomotive Leipzig was overshadowed by an ugly incident of racism targeting Ghana international Christopher Antwi-Adjei on Sunday.
Midway through the first half, the winger was subjected to racist insults from the stands as he prepared to take a throw-in.
The referee briefly halted the game to issue a stadium announcement, but instead of sympathy, parts of the home crowd responded with jeers directed at Antwi-Adjei every time he touched the ball.
Despite the abuse, the 31-year-old completed the game, later describing the experience as deeply disheartening.
“It is very disappointing to still have to experience something like this today. It should not happen. I hope this person thinks again about their words,” he told reporters after filing a police complaint.
Schalke strongly condemned the actions of the supporter, with sporting director Frank Baumann stressing that the club stands firmly behind the player:
“We condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms and hope the perpetrator will be identified. Schalke stands firmly at Christopher’s side.”
Head coach Miron Muslic lamented the reaction of the broader crowd, saying the incident reflected more than just one person’s actions:
“The entire stadium sensed what happened, yet they booed him. That is not the act of one individual.”
The Royal Blues have vowed to cooperate fully with investigations while reaffirming their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
For Antwi-Adjei, however, the match will be remembered less for the football and more for a reminder of the challenges many Black players continue to face on European pitches