Duesseldorf players protest far-right with jersey message

By AP
Published

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) German second-tier leader Fortuna Duesseldorf has played in jerseys declaring the club's opposition to far-right politics.

Duesseldorf had ''Gegen Rechts'' (against right-wing) on its shirt fronts instead of the usual logo from main sponsor Orthomol in Friday's 1-0 home win over Darmstadt.

Players also warmed up for the game wearing jerseys that showed a fist smashing a swastika.

The club says the action was to protest ''racism and discrimination.''

Orthomol owner Nils Glagau says the health-supplement company supports the action and ''we gladly make room on the jerseys for it.''

Chairman Robert Schaefer says, ''It's up to a traditional club to position itself clearly on the important issues in society. Fortuna has been doing this for years.''