German second-tier side 1860 Munich had a football supporter arrested and banned from their stadium for racially abusing a Germany Under-21 international during a league match.
Danny da Costa plays for Bayer Leverkusen against FC Metalist Kharkiv in Leverkusen in 2011. German second-tier side 1860 Munich had a football supporter arrested and banned from the stadium for racially abusing a Germany Under-21 international during a league match on Sunday.
Ingolstadt's 20-year-old defender Danny da Costa, who played for Germany Under-21's in last Tuesday's goalless draw with France, was the victim of racist taunts in his team's 1-0 second-tier defeat on Sunday at Munich's Allianz Arena, which 1860 share with Bayern Munich.
"In the second-half, several fans, or whatever you want to call them, felt the need to shout stuff..." the Ingolstadt defender told SID, an AFP subsidiary, on Monday.
"There was only a few of them, but every time the ball came near me, there were monkey chants. Of course, it's a pretty shitty feeling."
As the insults continued, the junior international complained to referee Florian Mayer, who had an announcement put out over the tannoy system to stop the abuse.
AC Milan and Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng famously walked off the pitch in Italy when subject to racist abuse last January, but Da Costa said doing something similar "wasn't an option for me at that moment".
The right-back said this was the worst abuse he had experienced in his short career.
"I have never seen anything like this before," he said.
"Recently, I stood on the pitch with the Under-21 team and sang the German national anthem - now I have to take these insults.
"These are just morons who should stay at home and insult the wallpaper."
The German Football Federation (DFB) have confirmed the matter is under investigation and 1860 Munich could face sanctions.
"No ifs or buts, the DFB has a clear position that racism, homophobia and all forms of discrimination have no place in football or any area where people come together," said DFB secretary general Stefan Hans.
"Football unites people, we must not allow things like this to pull us apart."
1860 Munich's chief executive officer Robert Schaefer apologised to Da Costa in a statement and said a stadium ban will follow for those responsible.
"Any abuse of this kind has no place at our games," said Schaefer.
"We are very grateful to our stewards, who immediately responded professionally and consistently.
"We were able to identify the person and have him arrested.
"Additionally, we will immediately issue a stadium ban."
Da Costa's team-mate Ralph Gunesch, who sat on the Ingolstadt bench and heard what was being shouted, took to Facebook to vent his fury.
"To continually insult a dark-skinned player... only shows that their IQ is only just above that of burnt toast," wrote Gunesch.
"Lock yourselves up at home and prattle on with your racist rubbish to the wallpaper, but save us all from these ideas.
"Racism is a crime not an opinion."