German FA to cooperate with Otto Addo’s anti-racism group Roots

The German Football Federation (DFB) is expanding its engagement against discrimination of all kinds in a cooperation with anti-racism group Roots which is led by former Bundesliga player and former Ghana coach Oddo Addo.

The DFB said on Thursday that racism was not “a marginal phenomenon” and that the aim of the cooperation was to continue to highlight discriminatory structures in German football, to challenge them and bring about lasting change.

“We must not simply react when incidents come to light. We must put structures in place to prevent discrimination before it arises,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said.

He added that Roots “is working constructively with us and supporting us as we continue to move consistently towards binding and effective prevention structures.”

DFB vice-president for diversity and equality Celia Sasic named anti-racism work “central to the football of today and the future.”

Neuendorf and Addo met at Monday’s World Cup tune-up match between Germany and Ghana, after which Addo was dismissed as coach.

Neuendorf said he was happy that Addo, who has lived in Germany his entire life, was part of this cooperation because ‘his experience and his approachable manner will greatly enrich this collaboration.”

Addo said in the DFB statement: “Roots brings a community-focused perspective, driven by experts from the world of sport – and football in particular – who often have personal experience of racism.

“It is precisely these perspectives that are crucial when it comes to bringing about real structural change. Our vision is a sporting landscape in which diversity is understood and practised as a natural and integral part of German sport, both on and off the pitch.”

Source: dpa