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Sauerland in action for P.S. Chorcha Dhuibhne. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

'Go back to your cotton fields' - Kerry An Ghaeltacht footballer on experience with racism

Franz Sauerland is the latest athlete to speak out.

FORMER KERRY MINOR footballer Franz Sauerland is the latest athlete to discuss his experience with racism in Ireland.

The An Ghaeltacht player adds his voice to those who spoke out in the wake of George Floyd’s death in America, including fellow Kingdom GAA star, Stefan Okunbor.

Okunbor detailed his experience with racist abuse both on and off the football pitch in a column for The42 last week.

Sauerland was speaking to the RTÉ’s Seán Mac an tSítigh when he was asked about the kind of abuse he received on the field.

“People ask me: ‘What are you doing in this country? Why are you playing this sport? Go back to your own country,’ says Sauerland, whose mother is from Ghana. His father is from Germany.

The worst insult I ever heard was: ‘Go back to your cotton fields!’ That upset me.

“I feel it’s just completely wrong. It upsets me when I hear those things. But I have fantastic team-mates who stand up for me and support whenever it happens.”

The 19-year-old Sauerland also spoke about this incident on the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme An Saol ó Dheas. He explained that he did not make a complaint at the time but that the referee had been informed of what happened and the player in question received a ban for the remark.

He also reflected on the difficulties he faced as a black person growing up in Ireland.

“It’s not so hard now because I’m grown up, but it was very hard about 10 years ago as a boy, looking around and realising that I was the only black person here in this area, other than my own family.

“It was challenging because I was different. I always felt I had to work twice as hard as my friends, even on the football field, to be better than everyone, so that they’d respect me, so that they would see me as equal, a good player, that they would look up to me and all that.”

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    Mute samstheman
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:00 PM

    It really is people from outside the club who are concerned about his dry spell. 17 goals 7 assists & well in the hunt for the golden boot again

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Mar 19th 2019, 8:51 AM

    @samstheman: his finishing and awareness of players around him recently has been shocking, pressure?

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    Mute Battaz
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:09 PM

    Even when Salah hits a dry patch the opposition are fixated on him!
    Liverpool are Top of the Premiership, and in the quarter finals of the Champion’s League!
    Slow news day?

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:17 PM

    @Battaz: tbf its not news but for salah to come out of his dry spell( if ya can call it that) would be a massive boost for lfc. While their in a great posistion city still there and augero scoring. Messi/ronaldo scoring for europes big teams.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Salah is selfish. Always angry and moody when he doesn’t score yet the team are winning.

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:45 PM

    @Fred McHugh: all top strikers/goal scorers have that trait. Its a positive in a goal scorer. Top top player

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    Mute Willy Motley
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @Fred McHugh: talking ouv your hoop

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    Mute Aileen Frost
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    Mar 19th 2019, 1:32 AM

    @Fred McHugh: thats what top strikers are …. Not ever happy with what they have . MON DA POOL

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Mar 19th 2019, 4:18 AM

    @Fred McHugh: can only agree with you Frederick. That accidental assist for Mane with the outside of his right foot v Munich was absolute and utter greed. Sell him to West Ham and be off with him

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Mar 19th 2019, 4:19 AM

    @Conor Pocock: left foot…. doh :)

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