German team 'blacks up' to support Sudanese refugee team-mates who were racially abused and attacked

Deinster SV posted a picture to their official Facebook account in which they are all 'blacked up'

The Deinster SV squad posted a picture in which they 'blacked up' to support two of their team-mates (Facebook/Deinster SV)

Players from a German football club have digitally altered their squad photo to make them appear to ‘black up’ as a show of solidarity to two team-mates who were racially abused.

Deinster SV, who play in the Kreisliga and are located in the Lower Saxony region, posted the picture on their official Facebook page in a demonstration against those who were accused of racially abusing two of their players, both of whom are Sudanese refugees.

The caption alongside the picture read: "Violence against refugees is pathetic. Emad and Amar, you are one of us just like everyone else and we're happy you are with us."

Deinster head coach, Soenke Kreibich, claimed that the two players were verbally and physically abused during an Easter fete in the town centre, in which Emad was pushed to the ground and beaten.

"We wanted to make a stand, amongst ourselves but also to the public," Kreibich told Jetzt website. "It should make it clear that Emad and Amar are an inherent part of our team, and not a minority on whom you can use violence to let off your personal frustration."

The act of solidarity has divided opinion though, with many praising the unity shown by the players while others admit they are uncomfortable with the act in what is normally seen as a racial insult itself.

One Facebook user commented: "Protest against racism. Hm. Not really sure about that."

Another wrote: "Somehow worrying, as I see it... Isn't this also a form of racism?"

Deinster is located in the Lower Saxony region in north Germany (Google Maps)

However, the majority of comments applauded the act and said the decision to release the picture was a “courageous and creative move”.

"People who lack self-confidence always look for apparently weaker people to make themselves feel better. That's how many a person becomes a miserable racist," read one comment. "Thank you for this courageous and creative move!"