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FA to make U21 racism complaint DFB issues denial in racism row
(about 7 hours later)
The Football Association will make a formal complaint to Uefa after two England Under-21 players said they suffered racial abuse in Germany. A German player at the centre of allegations over racist remarks against two England players during an Under-21 match has denied the accusations.
Micah Richards and Anton Ferdinand claimed they were called "monkeys" by opposition players. Micah Richards and Anton Ferdinand have claimed they were called "monkeys" by opposition players.
An FA spokesman said: "We will be formally communicating with Uefa in the next couple of days." But in German football federation statement, Werder Bremen striker Aaron Hunt said: "I did not use any racist terms whatsoever.
The incident overshadowed England's 2-0 win in Leverkusen which saw them qualify for the European Championships. "There were fierce verbal exchanges but that happens in every match."
Interview: England U21 striker Theo WalcottInterview: England U21 striker Theo Walcott
Hunt added that he had spent the last week sharing a room with Hertha Berlin midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.
"He is a black player and that should say enough," added Hunt.
The Football Association is to make a formal complaint to Uefa over the incident that overshadowed England's 2-0 win in Leverkusen which saw them qualify for the European Championships.
West Ham defender Ferdinand added: "It's in the hands of the FA and I am sure they'll deal with it in the appropriate manner. I don't want to say anything about it at this stage."West Ham defender Ferdinand added: "It's in the hands of the FA and I am sure they'll deal with it in the appropriate manner. I don't want to say anything about it at this stage."
Before the game, both teams lined up for a photograph behind an anti-racism banner but the match proved to be a tense and often feisty encounter, with both sides having a man sent off.Before the game, both teams lined up for a photograph behind an anti-racism banner but the match proved to be a tense and often feisty encounter, with both sides having a man sent off.
This has to be investigated and it will have its consequences Uefa presidentLennart JohanssonThis has to be investigated and it will have its consequences Uefa presidentLennart Johansson
Uefa president Lennart Johansson has promised a thorough investigation into the claims, while the German football association (DFB) has promsied to question its players over the allegations.Uefa president Lennart Johansson has promised a thorough investigation into the claims, while the German football association (DFB) has promsied to question its players over the allegations.
Johansson told BBC Radio Five Live: "This has to be investigated and it will have its consequences, that's clear.Johansson told BBC Radio Five Live: "This has to be investigated and it will have its consequences, that's clear.
"It is for the disciplinary board to decide on a punishment. I won't speculate on the outcome but racism is a very serious issue.""It is for the disciplinary board to decide on a punishment. I won't speculate on the outcome but racism is a very serious issue."
Previous incidents of racism have resulted in Uefa handing out fines to the guilty parties, but Johansson agreed that a more severe punishment should now be considered.Previous incidents of racism have resulted in Uefa handing out fines to the guilty parties, but Johansson agreed that a more severe punishment should now be considered.
"I can accept that people think fines aren't enough anymore," he said. "If you try something and it has no effect then you have to look at other options." "I can accept that people think fines aren't enough any more," he said. "If you try something and it has no effect then you have to look at other options."
German officials have revealed they are in the process of questioning all the German players involved in the game and have already spoken to skipper Stefan Kiessling.German officials have revealed they are in the process of questioning all the German players involved in the game and have already spoken to skipper Stefan Kiessling.
"The first inquiry was made with Kiessling but yielded no results," DFB spokesman Harald Stenger told Reuters."The first inquiry was made with Kiessling but yielded no results," DFB spokesman Harald Stenger told Reuters.
"Now the Under-21 coach Dieter Eilts is contacting all the players individually. It might take hours or it could longer until he has reached them all." "Now the under-21 coach Dieter Eilts is contacting all the players individually."
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, said he hoped the incident in Leverkusen was a misunderstanding.England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, said he hoped the incident in Leverkusen was a misunderstanding.
"You'd like to give the young German players the benefit of the doubt," he told Five Live."You'd like to give the young German players the benefit of the doubt," he told Five Live.
"Things might be said in the heat of the match, but I would think it was a language barrier thing, more a case of them being limited in what they're trying to get across."Things might be said in the heat of the match, but I would think it was a language barrier thing, more a case of them being limited in what they're trying to get across.
"I don't think they would purposely be racist, although obviously racism is still around.""I don't think they would purposely be racist, although obviously racism is still around."