German captain Dennis Schroder said he was subjected to racist remarks from Lithuanian supporters during the Eurobasket 2025 tournament between Germany and Lithuania.
Schroder said he and his teammates were the targets of monkey noises from the crowd during Saturday’s 107-88 triumph for Germany. Players and personnel from both sides got into a heated argument in the arena tunnel during halftime as a result of this.
Confrontation in the Tunnel
As players made their way to the locker room, a verbal clash unfolded in the arena hallway. Schroder expressed his dismay at the racist behaviour, stating, “It was awesome. Great atmosphere. The Lithuanians, the fans, they always travel with the team. But unfortunately, at halftime, they made monkey noises.” He emphasised that such actions are unacceptable in sports, declaring, “Racism in this world doesn’t belong here.”
The International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, responded by excluding one fan from attending the rest of the competition because they were involved in the discriminatory behavior. To find the culprit, FIBA officials looked through camera material. Two people were also taken out of the arena after the incident, according to the German Basketball Association.
FIBA’s Commitment to Inclusivity
FIBA has stated its commitment to creating a respectful environment for all participants. The organisation plans to meet with the Lithuanian delegation to discuss the incident and reinforce the importance of sportsmanship. A representative from FIBA commented, “We unequivocally condemn hate speech, discriminatory conduct and racist language in any form.”
“I noticed that Dennis was very upset – and rightly so… Such things have no place in sports or competition,” said Alan Ibrahimagic, the German team’s interim head coach, regarding the incident’s effect on Schroder. Discussions concerning racism in sports and the need for ongoing measures to guarantee a safe atmosphere for both players and fans have been triggered by the occurrences at Eurobasket 2025.