Racism and Nazism Are Haunting Germany’s World Cup Campaign

Prior to the debut of this year’s World Cup, Germany was not only a favorite to win the tournament, but was voted the most popular country in the world. But while Deutschland still has a loose cup chance, its popularity may be waning after a few controversies that have seen the country’s Nazi past reemerge—and which throw an unwelcome spotlight on the country’s present, albeit isolated, neo-Nazism.

Nazi-era jersey
An exhibit of historical soccer jerseys in Salvador, Brazil has flared into controversy because of its inclusion of a 1934 German replica uniform. The white garment with a reichsadler, or imperial eagle, perched on a swastika has many wondering who could have made such an insensitive oversight. While looking at the 1934 regalia, Rolf Zettel of Fribourg, Switzerland told the Associated Press: “Is this a joke or what? Germany 1934 [was] a despicable time. Is this OK? No it’s not OK.”

Others, however, say it should remain for historical purposes. Chile fan Leonardo Duarte said, “It actually represents a time that I don’t know that well, but that was really negative in world history.”

German fans in blackface
A photograph of two German fans in black face at the Germany vs Ghana match sparked an online storm, with FIFA promising to investigate. Reports say that several German fans came to the match on June 21 in blackface.

Germany’s recent record on blackface isn’t good. Die Tageszeitung, a left-leaning newspaper known for its progressiveness and work on inequality, referred to the White House as “Uncle Barack’s Cabin” in 2008. Editors defended the cover, saying it was satirical.

In 2011, Martin Sonneborn, a print satirist, comedian and current member of European Parliament lathered himself in blackface in order to compare himself to Obama.

The backlash in English-speaking media was ferocious, but Sonneborn was unapologetic. “No, I didn’t know [the history of blackface],” he said. “If Americans associate it with that, then I’m sorry, but I’m not going to take it down,” Sonneborn told The Local at the time.

Neo-Nazi sympathizer invades the field

Also during the match between Ghana and Germany, a man covered in Nazi markings—including an “HH” for “Heil HItler”—invaded the field, and evaded stewards. It fell to Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari to remove him.

According to AP, the incident is being referred to the FIFA Disciplinary committee. FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer told reporters: ”We do not respect any discriminatory messages. We are always taking any evidence or submissions to our disciplinary committee.”

According to Football Against Racism in Europe director Piara Powar “The question becomes how does one control an individual fan who chooses to mark his body and jumps on the pitch to propagate his neo-Nazi views.” He added: ”It’s a failure in the FIFA system to get as far as he did.”