Inspired by NFL, Bundesliga club’s players take a knee
Players for Hertha Berlin nodded to social struggles in the United States by kneeling before the team’s Bundesliga home game Saturday.
“We wanted to make a stand against racism,” Hertha captain Per Skjelbred said after a 2-0 loss to Schalke.
Hertha’s starting lineup linked arms and took a knee on the pitch, while Pal Dardai’s coaching staff, general manager Michael Preetz, club officials and substitutes took a knee off the playing field before kickoff. “Hertha BSC stands for tolerance and responsibility! For a tolerant Berlin and an openminded world, now and forevermore!” the club said on Twitter.
“Hertha Berlin stands for diversity and against violence. For this reason we are joining the protest of American athletes and setting a sign against discrimination,” the stadium announcer told more than 50,000 fans attending the game at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, originally built for the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.
The action was intended to show solidarity with NFL players
who have been protesting police treatment of blacks and social injustice in the U.S. by kneeling, sitting or locking arms through the national anthem before games.
Last year, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement, which has been harshly criticized by President Trump.
“We’re no longer living in the 18th century but in the 21st century. There are some people, however, who are not that far ideologically yet,” Hertha defender Sebastian Langkamp said. “If we can give some lessons there with that, then that’s good.”
More Europe: Manchester City produced its most ruthless display of an already-prolific season in the English Premier League, overwhelming Stoke in a 7-2 win that was orchestrated by playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who wasn’t one of the six players to score but had a hand in four of the goals with his vision and crosses. City has won seven games and drawn the other to take a two-point lead over Manchester United, which drew 0-0 at Liverpool. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace registered its first points and goals of the season in a surprise 2-1 win over Chelsea, and Arsenal conceded in injury time to lose 2-1 at Watford.
Barcelona lost its perfect Spanish league record and salvaged a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid with a late equalizer by Luis Suarez. Suarez scored with a header from close range in the 82nd minute to leave Barcelona five points ahead of Real Madrid, which defeated Getafe 2-1 with a late winner by Cristiano Ronaldo . ... Defender Thomas Meunier scored again as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 at Dijon to move six points clear . ... Juventus’ stranglehold on the Serie A title for six straight seasons is at risk; the Bianconeri were beaten by Lazio for the second time this season, falling 2-1 at home. League leader Napoli won at Roma 1-0 with a first-half goal from Lorenzo Insigne to open up a five-point advantage over Inter Milan, Juventus and Lazio.
Portland wins NWSL title: Lindsey Horan scored in the 50th minute, and the Portland Thorns beat the North Carolina Courage 1-0 in Orlando for the National Women’s Soccer League championship.
It is Portland’s second title. The Thorns also won the NWSL’s inaugural championship in 2013.
The Courage were trying for back-to-back titles.
Deltas prevail: Bryan Burke scored two goals and Pablo Dyego one as the Deltas (7-1-5 Fall season) picked up a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico FC (2-6-4) at Kezar Stadium. An unmarked Burke scored on a header off a corner kick from Dagoberto in the eighth minute, then got a step on his man to fire in a right-footed blast from 15 yards to make it 2-0 just before halftime.