Hannover won the encounter 3-2 to pile the pressure on Mainz, who are battling to steer clear of the relegation battle. However, the alleged incident of racial abuse aimed at Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun and out-of-favour Nigeria forward Anthony Ujah by a group of the hosts’ fans took some shine off Die Roten’s win. “I’m taken aback by what Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah had to experience on Saturday,” the O-Fives Sporting Director Rouven Schroeder said on the club’s official website. “FSV Mainz 05 stand together with their players in the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. We apologise in every form to Mainz and the two players,” AP quoted Kind as saying on Monday.

Source: Punch January 15, 2018 23:03 UTC