#NieWieder- Remembrance Day in German football

27 January 2021

27 January 2021, marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

With the “Remembrance Day in German Football” DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) and the clubs of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga remember all those who were discriminated, displaced and murdered under the Nazi regime. The clubs use matchdays 18 and 19 and the upcoming days to raise awareness, promote diversity and remember the victims.

This year most of the clubs focus on the people who were persecuted and murdered because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

See several examples of how German clubs making a stand against racism, anti-semitism, exclusion, violence and hatred on social media and with events below.

DFB (German Football Association)

FC Schalke 04

FC Schalke 04 players, coaches, staff, volunteers and fans stand up against racism and for diversity.

Schalke 04 reacted on Twitter on a post from a German right-wing politician and received support from Borussia Dortmund, the biggest rival of Schalke. Schalke 04 stated that mocking about values like tolerance and diversity is not acceptable and that the club will never ‘relegate’ to the low level of the politician.

FSV Mainz 05

EFDN member 1. FSV Mainz 05 has raised awareness of the campaign during the last matchday and will organise three online events from 27 January until 9 February. The online lectures and discussions focus on LGTBQ+, tolerance and democracy.

FC Augsburg

The team captain from FC Augsburg wore a special captain’s armband to raise awareness.

SC Freiburg

From now on, all the team captains from SC Freiburg will wear a rainbow coloured captain’s armband to promote diversity and tolerance.

VfL Wolfsburg

Players from VfL Wolfsburg’s women and men team visited a location where the Nazi regime has established an outpost of the concentration camp Neuengamme.

VfL Osnabrück

The club organised different activities to promote diversity and tolerance and remember the victims of the Nazi regime. Youth players participated in an online anti-discrimination workshop.

 FC Köln / TSG Hoffenheim

Rainbow coloured corner flags were vsible during the match Hoffenheim against Cologne. TSG Hoffenheim shared also a video message including the head coach of the first team, fans and staff.

FC ST. PAULI

The club from Hamburg placed a banner on one of the stands at their home ground saying: “No oblivion – No forgetting”.

Borussia Dortmund/ Borussia Mönchengladbach

Both teams joined forces to raise awareness of the DFL’s #WeRemember campaign. Team captains Lars Stindl and Marco Reus made a photo together with the referees on Friday.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen announced their support of the campaign and shared more information in social media posts.

Show Racism the Red Card

Show Racism the Red Card Europe is an EFDN initiative combining a European-wide awareness campaign with a successful educational programme covering the topics anti-racism, diversity, LGTBQ+, religion and tolerance. Interested grassroots and professional clubs can join the campaign here.

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