Ex-Arsenal Goalkeeper Sacked by Hertha Berlin over Racist Message
Former Arsenal goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann has been sacked from Hertha Berlin’s supervisory board after referring to German television pundit Dennis Aogo as “a token black guy” in a WhatsApp message.
Lehmann appeared to accidentally send a message to former German international Dennis Aogo which read: “Is Dennis actually your Quotenschwarzer(token black guy)?”
Aogo posted a screenshot of the message on Instagram with the caption: “Wow, are you serious? This message was probably not meant for me.”
Lehmann was sacked by Hertha Berlin on Wednesday, May 5, in a statement released by the club’s president, Werner Gegenbauer, which read: “Such statements are in no way representative of the values that Hertha BSC stands for. We distance ourselves from all forms of racism and welcome the action taken by TENNOR Holding.”
The 51-year-old, who played for the Gunners from 2003-2008 as well as for a brief spell in 2011, and represented Germany 61 times, apologised on social media to Aogo, a former Hamburg and Schalke player who now works for Sky Sports in Germany.
“In a private message from my mobile phone to Dennis Aogo, an impression was created for which I apologised in conversation with Dennis,” he wrote. “As a former national player he is very knowledgeable and has a great presence and drives ratings to Sky.”
Lehmann retired as a player in 2011, having spent five full seasons at Arsenal between 2003-2008
