Racism harmful for German image abroad says Asamoah

BERLIN (AFP) — Germany international striker Gerald Asamoah, born in Ghana, admits he was deeply hurt by the racist monkey chants directed at him in a recent cup match and warned that Germany's image abroad could be harmed if there are any more incidents. Asamoah, who in 2001 became the first black to represent Germany, was subjected to racist taunts by fans of Hansa Rostock's second team in Schalke's first round cup win on September 9.

Hansa were fined 20,000 euros for the conduct of their fans but Asamoah said the abusive supporters faced ruining all the good public relations work from this summer's World Cup. "A lot of people abroad associate Germany with xenophobia. But at this summer's World Cup everyone was astonished that Germans could be so different," Asamoah said in an interview with Kicker magazine. "In Ghana the people were thrilled and maybe a bit relieved. But ...