Hans Sarpei, a Ghanaian-born former Schalke 04 full-back described chairman of the German football club, Clemens Tönnies comments as racist.
The billionaire owner of a meat processing company, had told a conference last week that instead of increasing taxes to protect the environment the government should build power stations in Africa.
“Then the Africans would stop cutting down trees and produce babies when it is dark,” said the 63-year-old, who himself grew up as one of six siblings.
Hans, who played most of his football career in German said
“These are racist comments that are in no way compatible with FC Schalke 04’s principles and our modern, open society.”
However, the Schalke chairman's racist comment although was widely condemned by fans and former players which he was suspended for 3 months had also received unexpected support from Angela Merkel’s personal representative for Africa. “The problems Tönnies raised, such as the disappearance of the rainforest and population growth on the African continent are real and have to be talked about, if need be in a controversial discussion, ”