Former German international Jérôme Boateng was shocked by the images of the brutal death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis., The Bayern Munich player confessed this Sunday in an interview from Sky Sport. “It was an unscrupulous murder that this time was recorded. In me it has also caused a mixture of anger, misunderstanding and compassion”Boateng said.
The 31-year-old central defender said that he had also experienced racism on the playground in Berlin, when he was insulted by other children and their parents. “But, also later, as is known, there has still been hostility in some areas,” he said.
picture alliance / dpa (picture alliance / dpa)
In his opinion, the global protests against racism, in which people speak out and show solidarity, are “good and important”. “Many people love black culture, it is good that they also defend the people who represent it and demonstrate it. However, this should not be a two-week fad, but should be established in the long term, there must be a change in mentality”said Boateng, who appealed to everyone to get involved when racist comments are made.
Floyd was killed in the US city of Minneapolis on May 25 in a brutal police operation. Since his death there have been several anti-racist protests and messages in German soccer, including those of champion Bayern Munich.