Germany's Schroder Condemns Racial Harassment at EuroBasket
In a regrettable turn of events during the EuroBasket Championship 2025, a racist incident marred the sportsmanship. The specific incident involved racial insults directed at former German basketball player, Dirk Nowitzki, during a game. However, the identity of the man responsible for the offensive comments remains undisclosed to the public.
This is not an isolated incident, as a similar event occurred at a football (soccer) DFB-Pokal match supporting Lok Leipzig, where anonymous fans racially insulted Christopher Antwi-Adjei. Despite efforts to identify the individual perpetrators, they have yet to be named.
FIBA, the governing body of international basketball, has taken swift action in response to the EuroBasket incident. They have identified a spectator as being responsible for the racial abuse and have subsequently banned the offender from attending any further games of the EuroBasket 2025.
In a show of solidarity, Ellen SchroΜder, the wife of Dirk Nowitzki, took to social media to share screenshots of other racist insults she had encountered.
FIBA has also passed on relevant video footage and information about the incident to the local Finnish authorities for further investigation.
The German Basketball Federation (DBB) president, Ingo Weiss, has confirmed the racist incident, expressing his disappointment and concern. The Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) president, Mindaugas Balciunas, has also spoken out against the behaviour, stating that it is unacceptable and contradicts the values of basketball and society.
In a gesture of goodwill, the Lithuanian players have apologised to Dirk Nowitzki for the incident. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued efforts to combat racism and promote a welcoming and inclusive environment in sports.
