FIFA to investigate Germany fans 'blacking up' for their country's World Cup Group G clash with Ghana

  • Two men spotted in Fortaleza stadium with blackened faces
  • Germany drew 2-2 with Ghana on Saturday
  • Game also disrupted after topless fan invaded pitch

By David Kent for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

FIFA is investigating after photographs circulated of fans wearing black face makeup at Germany’s match against Ghana.


Images posted on social media networks showed two men, appearing to be Germany fans, with blackened faces in the Fortaleza stadium on Saturday.

Caught out: Two fans who appeared to be blacked up pose ahead of Germany's game with Ghana

Caught out: Two fans who appeared to be blacked up pose ahead of Germany's game with Ghana

Under investigation: FIFA are looking into reports that Germany fans wore black face makeup

Under investigation: FIFA are looking into reports that Germany fans wore black face makeup

Watching on: the two supporters were spotted during Germany's 2-2 draw with Ghana on Saturday

Watching on: the two supporters were spotted during Germany's 2-2 draw with Ghana on Saturday

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FIFA says its disciplinary committee is in discussion to open a case.

‘We always take any evidence or submissions to our disciplinary committee. It is the disciplinary committee that will meet,’ a spokeswoman told The Guardian. ‘If they see any grounds they will open proceedings. Then it is up to the disciplinary commission to take the decision.’

FIFA holds national football federations responsible for their fans’ behaviour inside stadiums.

Football fans took to Twitter to show their anger towards the fans who decided to paint their faces.

One tweeted: 'World Cup Officials cannot allow blatant racism like this Blackface BS happen at the games. German fans at Ghana game,' while another said: 'How does Germany pay homage to Ghana? By being racist in Blackface of course!'

In a second incident, a man ran onto the pitch in the second half of the 2-2 draw.

Disruption: A fan stops play by running onto the pitch during Germany's 2-2 draw with Ghana on Saturday

Disruption: A fan stops play by running onto the pitch during Germany's 2-2 draw with Ghana on Saturday

Moved on: The pitch invader was apprehended by Ghana's Sulley Muntari and removed from the field
Moved on: The pitch invader was apprehended by Ghana's Sulley Muntari and removed from the field

Moved on: The pitch invader was apprehended by Ghana's Sulley Muntari and removed from the field

German history of 'blacking' up

Germany has a tradition of blacking up, often for theatrical purposes, that despite its burgeoning ethnic minority population and the fact that it is now unthinkable in the UK and the U.S., still continues to this day.

In January last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel courted controversy after she posed for pictures with carol singers who had applied black face paint to pose as the Three Kings.

It was part of the Sternsinger, or star singer, tradition of Dreikönigstag, the Three Kings' Day, when children go from house to house in groups of four and sing carols for charity.

It is tradition that one of the kings is black.
Prior to that, the Olivier award-winning playwright Bruce Norris in 2012 banned a Berlin theatre from staging one of his plays after learning that it intended to 'black up' a white actress for a lead role.

In an open letter he called on fellow playwrights to boycott any German theatre which still practices what he described as an 'asinine tradition'.

'Whatever rationale the German theatre establishment might offer for their brazenly discriminatory practice is of no interest to me,' he wrote.

'For, as little power as we playwrights have, we always retain one small power and that is the power to say no. To say, no thank you, I’d rather not have my work performed in Germany, today, under those conditions.'


The shirtless fan, who is reportedly from Poland, had an email address and telephone number written on his back.

Ghana's former Portsmouth and Sunderland midfielder Sulley Muntari, who currently plays for AC Milan, apprehended the pitch invader before he was detained by stewards and removed from the field.

Brazil’s organising committee spokesman Saint-Clair Milesi said the man was detained by local authorities.

Meanwhile, FIFA have also been contacted by the Fare network relating to discriminatory chanting at the World Cup.

Allegations of the use of improper language by supporters at games between Brazil and Mexico and Cameroon and Mexico have been passed on to FIFA by Fare - the organisation in place to tackle discrimination in football.

The allegations centre around the use of the word 'puto' which translates into 'whore' and has been heard in games in Fortaleza and Natal.

FIFA said that while Fare had passed on concerns about both of the matches - played last Friday and on Monday - it was already engaged in disciplinary
proceedings against Mexico.

It said in a statement: 'We can confirm that we have been contacted by Fare. Prior to this, disciplinary proceedings were opened against Mexico for improper conduct of spectators during the match Mexico - Cameroon.

FIFA also reiterated its position on discrimination of any time.

Controversy: FIFA have been contacted about discriminatory chanting allegedly heard during Brazil v Mexico

Controversy: FIFA have been contacted about discriminatory chanting allegedly heard during Brazil v Mexico

Concern: The allegations centre around the use of the word 'puto' which translates into 'whore'

Concern: The allegations centre around the use of the word 'puto' which translates into 'whore'

FIFA's responsibility to abolish discrimination in football

FIFA recognises its responsibility to lead the way in abolishing all forms of discrimination in football. Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes states: 'Discrimination of any kind against a Country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.'

Worry: The use of improper language was also allegedly heard during Mexico's win against Cameroon

Worry: The use of improper language was also allegedly heard during Mexico's win against Cameroon

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