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Bayern's Dayot Upamecano (r.) had to leave the field against Lazio in the 67th minute of the game, and the subsequent penalty kick sealed the defeat
Photo: Alfredo Falcone / LaPresse / IMAGO
FC Bayern Munich has strongly condemned racist comments against defender Dayot Upamecano on social media following their Champions League defeat at Lazio. “Upa had the very unfortunate foul with the red card,” said CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen on Thursday night in his banquet speech in the team hotel after the 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Lazio. »What particularly bothered me were the disgusting comments on social media afterwards. All I can say is that this is despicable," said Dreesen.
»This kind of racist mob is not our world. This is not FC Bayern. “That’s something we won’t put up with,” Dreesen continued. There was applause in the hall for the words.
The penalty due after Upamecano's foul against Lazio attacker Gustav Isaksen led to the decisive goal for the Romans (read more about it here).
Bayern had to protect their player before
The black footballer was then massively insulted on his Instagram profile. In the comment section of the account there are also posts that take a position against racism and encourage the player. The attacks were “absolutely despicable,” FC Bayern wrote to X late on Wednesday evening immediately after the game. “Anyone who makes comments like that is not a fan of our club. We have your back, Upa!”
The online gaffes against the 25-year-old Upamecano were not an isolated case. Just over a year ago, after his unfortunate performance in the 3-0 defeat in the quarter-final first leg of the 2022/23 Champions League at Manchester City, the Frenchman was racially insulted. Even then, Bayern clearly condemned the comments.
ngo/dpa