Hertha Berlin’s under-16 team stopped playing a game against regional rivals Auerbach after its players were allegedly subjected to racist abuse from their opponents on Saturday.
The Bundesliga club said in a statement that “several players from our team were racially abused by their opposing players.”
Hertha officials informed the referee of the alleged abuse and decided to stop playing in the 68th minute while leading 2-0 “because we as Hertha BSC condemn racism and discrimination in every form.”
Hertha executive board member Paul Keuter called it “the only correct decision, not to continue with the game.”
The club released a statement on Twitter which read: “There are times when football doesn’t come first. Racism has no place in our society.”
Hertha under-23 player Jessic Ngankam said he was targeted with monkey chants and called an “ape” by an opposing player during his side’s fourth division game against Lokomotive Leipzig on Dec. 6.
“Insults are unfortunately an everyday occurrence in football, and I can put up with them,” he told broadcaster MDR. “But racist abuse is a no-go.”
Both Hertha and Lokomotive condemned the alleged abuse.