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In the heart of Tampere, Finland, the Nokia Arena echoed with a powerful message of unity and inclusivity during the EuroBasket group stage. The basketball world governing body, FIBA, and the hosts made a solidarity statement against racism, following an incident of racist heckling towards German basketball captain, Dennis Schroeder, during the game between Lithuania and Germany.
During the game, Schroeder reported being subjected to monkey noises, an act that is unacceptable in any sporting environment. In response, FIBA and Finland issued a clear statement against racism, expressing their zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviour.
The solidarity statement was not just a mere declaration. Everyone in attendance held up red cards with the inscription "Stop racism" on cue before the game between Finland and World Champions Germany. Over 13,000 of these cards were distributed across the Nokia Arena, creating a powerful visual representation of the fight against racism.
The red cards also reached the press tribune, serving as a stark reminder of the seriousness of the issue at hand. The red cards were used to show support for the anti-racism message, symbolising the collective stand against racism in the basketball community.
The fan group "Ultra Sankt Pauli" was responsible for causing audience whispering with monkey noises during the EM match between Germany and Lithuania on Saturday. As a consequence, they have been banned from further EM games. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred; two fans were previously removed from the hall for similar incidents.
Lithuania's professionals apologised to Schroeder for the racist incident, acknowledging the unacceptable behaviour and expressing their support for the anti-racism message.
The solidarity statement was not just limited to the game against Germany. Signs of solidarity with Schroeder were also visible during the game against Britain. Schroeder himself reiterated his stance, stating that racism has no place in basketball and that he would not tolerate monkey noises or any form of racism.
The game between Finland and Germany ended with a score of 107:88 in favour of Finland. Despite the competitive nature of the game, the solidarity against racism was a clear highlight, demonstrating the power of unity in the face of adversity. The event served as a reminder that sport should be a platform for bringing people together, not for fostering division and hatred.
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