soccer

Leipzig apologizes after Japanese fans asked to leave stadium over virus fear

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The coronavirus is making fools out of everyone.

Didn't a Japanese restaurant do something similar in putting up a sign saying Chinese were not allowed?

14 ( +24 / -10 )

@oldman...I agree with you. Yes a Japanese restaurant did the same but that was one small restaurant. I think the order of magnitude of what was done in Germany was much higher.

Fortunately in the case of the Japanese restaurant if you read the Japanese comments nearly 100% of the comments were against the owner of the restaurant in the case of what happened in Germany it appears they got enough flak to realize what they did was a bit foolish.

These are interesting and trying times and people have different tolerances for this type of stress and will act out in strange ways. I just hope this subsides soon so we can get back to our normal bickering about politics, etc.....

15 ( +16 / -1 )

One Leipzig fan group said in a statement Monday that it believed the treatment of the Japanese fans to be a racist incident.

Yah think? I give them credit for stepping up and admitting it, and trying to do something to correct the problem! Be nice for Japan to copy this!

8 ( +18 / -10 )

@Tokyo-Engr

There were two reported cases; One was a shop that banned Chinese people, while a ramen place in Ueno banned all foreigners.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Didn't a Japanese restaurant do something similar in putting up a sign saying Chinese were not allowed?

That doesn’t justify what happened to the Japanese fans. Racism by anyone, in any form is intolerable.

Shameful!!!!

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Hi Paul....I did not know of the other one.

I did read about the one in Ueno. I found the Japanese comments on that and was quite happy to see that nearly all were against the shop owner. I think 20 years ago this reaction may have been different.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

This pure ignorance. Asking Japanese fans to leave because you are worried about the virus? They are aware that it is not just asian people infected with the virus right? They are aware that the soccer players were never even at risk of being infected from thos fans? They could have just pushed away lifetime fans that have been in Germany and supporting that teams for decades.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Litmus test works.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

@ Yubaru

Yah think? I give them credit for stepping up and admitting it, and trying to do something to correct the problem! Be nice for Japan to copy this!

And the best part is that... it was immediate !

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The Leipzig incident is inexcusable. It doesn’t matter if they regretted it afterward because they still did it in the first place. Anyways, most people regret something if they’re publicly shamed, so how can you judge their REAL feelings?

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Y'all wouldn't ask Germans or Italians to leave, despite them being Europe's corona-hotspots.

Racism. Racism everywhere. I'm glad the Japanese were kind hearted and didn't justifiably retaliated.

Also, the comments here, once again, are a joy to read. Y'all can't stand the fact that the Japanese are, for once, being apologized to, so y'all bring up Keno restaurants and what have you. Familiar names, too.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Ueno*, not Keno, damn autocorrect

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Funny, since the per-capita rate of infection is roughly the same among Germans, French and Japanese, while Italians are 20 times more likely to be infected. Clearly a thoughtless and racist act. Anyone saying this is equivalent to some obscure ramen shop owner refusing foreign customers is just reaching for excuses.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Is it racism?

If the action is a deep seated hatred that has easily popped to the surface over the corona virus, then yes.

Or is it just a bunch of scared people who are targeting Asians out of fear?

Would this happen under normal circumstances? No=no racism.

Ignorant or precautious should be the discussion, with a side chat about “those” folks who never let a crises to to waste by claiming racism.

invalid CSRF

5 ( +13 / -8 )

@FizzBit

Or is it just a bunch of scared people who are targeting Asians out of fear?

Would this happen under normal circumstances? No=no racism.

You are aware that this still = racism? The reason this is classified as racism is being it is believed that because someone is asian, they have the virus, whereas someone who is not asian is not likely to have the virus. Doesn't matter if the actions is one off. The frame of thought is what makes it racist.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

YubaruToday  07:09 am JST

One Leipzig fan group said in a statement Monday that it believed the treatment of the Japanese fans to be a racist incident.

Yah think? I give them credit for stepping up and admitting it, and trying to do something to correct the problem! Be nice for Japan to copy this!

What make you think they won't as soon as a whole sports fn group are asked to leave a stadium?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

RB Leipzig is known throughout the Word; the ramen shop is known in the neighbourhood.

"Anyone saying this is equivalent to some obscure ramen shop owner refusing foreign customers is just reaching for excuses."

And then they say all Japanese are racists.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

so two wrongs doesn't make it right. um.....

action by the soccer club is far worse than the Japanese restaurant, restaurant put the sign outside so that you couldn't go inside to eat.

what the soccer club did was same as, kicking them out middle of their meal.

so which one worse?

and give them their full refund , not another ......ticket, i would never go back to that place again.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

What's "AASENBALL" in the photo?

Or is that RASENBALL or ARSENBALL?

Unfortunate photo?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The two situations don't need to be compared. They are both horrible situations. Doesn't matter if you are barred from a restaurant or asked to leave a game. It's a horrible feeling, unjust, and improper regardless of where it takes place. The restaurant owner is no better or worst than the club.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@theFu

It's Rasenball. Like "lawn ball" in English. Weird name for a football team....

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Racism

0 ( +3 / -3 )

some of you need to take ethnic studies 101, there are many types racism and racist acts, not just deep rooted hatred, this is one kind.

other racism is what this soccer club did, fear of the c19 virus, they kicked them out, this is ignorance , stereotyping, generalization, and etc. more but will stop here.

Japanese restaurant's act is racism also, fear of the virus, they don't foreigners come into their store, very ignorant people here.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Soccer games in Italy have been canceled. Everyone is freaking out. Including those who are trying to use this ignorant act.

Oh, it’s not the deep seared kind of racism, it’s racist-light.

Gimme a break. After your Ethnic Studies 101, go next door and take Social Psych 102.

So who is the racist? The security guard? the whole security team? just the security manager? The whole club? All of Germany?

i think before people go labeling anything racism or racist they better be able to name names. What’s the popular term these days for people that do this?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Were they all wearing masks, I wonder?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Pretty much most major sports worldwide have Japanese sponsors. These companies should take their money elsewhere and make it sting.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

oldman_13: "Didn't a Japanese restaurant do something similar in putting up a sign saying Chinese were not allowed?"

Yes, and on a daily basis you can hear people say, at least leading up to the massive spread in Japan, "When I heard them speaking Chinese, I became afraid!", etc. etc. And you can STILL here people saying how glad they are there are less Chinese around.

The point being, this kind of xenophobia is by far not limited to any particular nation, and Japan is NOT the nation to be crying foul when it won't clean up its own examples first.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Since the virus outbreaks the China towns and Chinese restaurants have been very short of Japanese customers.

And short of American customers in the US as well.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@zichi

@commanteer

I frequent the Chinatown in Kobe. Some give good discounts.

Scientist in the US recently said, after examining the virus, that there is a likelihood that the virus has long been circulating around the US and other countries for months. Because the average person isn't truly affected. So eating at a Chinese restaurant and sitting next to the person at work gives me the same risk.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's called Rasenball to get around strict sponsorship rules for clubs in Germany. They are backed by Red Bull.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

One was a shop that banned Chinese people, while a ramen place in Ueno banned all foreigners.

The shop had been vandalized by bad manner Chinese and the owner took advantage of corona virus.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"When I heard them speaking Chinese, I became afraid!", etc. etc. And you can STILL here people saying how glad they are there are less Chinese around.

How come this kind of accusatory post is permitted for some users, but deleted for others? How come users like smith are permitted to continue their anti-Japanese sentiment, very anti-Japanese, but others here get deleted at the slightest hint of accusations against any nation? Maybe JT can explain the guidelines.?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

No, its not racism, its making blanket statements, its fear taking hold instead of logic, its a wide brush blanket treatment instead of patience and respect.

But racist? Cmon, I am Japanese and I have seen racism. They were asked to leave because of the Corona Virus Mania. They were not asked to leave because they were Japanese.

You do actual racism a favor by suggesting this is racist.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Since the virus outbreaks the China towns and Chinese restaurants have been very short of Japanese customers.

And short of American customers in the US as well.

Same thing here down under as well.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Unfortunately, in Japan, few people spread sentimental insistence that the government should shutout non-Japanese especially Chinese and Koreans.As one Japanese I deeply feel ashamed. I read these comments, I was compelled to reflect whether we Japanese think racism seriously as Germans ? Maybe not. I love so much the city and people of Leipzig, that I was shocked at first. But I feel we must learn much from Germany. If Germans feel you too from us , I feel very happy.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Unfortunately, few Japanese people sentimentally claim that "We should shutout non-Japanese especially Chinese and Korean."As one Japanese, I deeply feel ashamed.And also I can't feel most of Japanese are thoughtful enough about racism.

We must learn that we can be both offenders and victims of racism any time any case.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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